Daily Wrap: Are The Warriors Still Ahead Of The Game?

Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber are born killers.

They could not have cared less when everyone was saying they ruined the NBA, instead publicly insisting they wanted to “ruin” it for many more years to come.

With an ownership group as savvy and determined as this one, and an organisation which has come to expect success at every level, it makes sense that they found a way to stay relevant following Kevin Durant’s departure and Klay Thompson’s ACL tear.

They did so by turning Durant into D’Angelo Russell via sign-and-trade, inking the 23-year-old All-Star to a four-year, $117 max deal.

And here’s the kicker: there’s talk that Golden State might not even want to keep Russell long-term.

He isn’t a great fit and the Warriors are spending $100 million on three backcourt players alone with him on the books.

But Russell is sure to have plenty of value on the trade market and his acquisition ensures Golden State didn’t lose Durant for nothing.

And while his large contract has already forced Andre Iguodala and Jordan Bell out the door (with Shaun Livingston and Quinn Cook likely to follow), the Warriors are betting that they will get better value out of Russell, either directly or via the trade market.

And in the meantime, the team will still be exciting and relevant heading into their sparkling new waterfront arena.

Free agent signings 

Day two 

Kevon Looney – Golden State Warriors (3 years, $15M)

Seth Curry – Dallas Mavericks (4 years, $32M)

Austin Rivers – Houston Rockets (2 years)

Corey Joseph – Sacramento Kings (3 years, $37M)

Jordan Bell – Minnesota Timberwolves (1 year, $1.6M)

Tim Frazier – Detroit Pistons (1 year, $2M)

Frank Kaminsky – Phoenix Suns (2 years, $10M)

Wesley Matthews – Milwaukee Bucks (1 year, $2.5M)

Richaun Holmes – Sacramento Kings (2 years, $10M)

JJ Barea – Dallas Mavericks (1 year, $2.5M)

Enes Kanter – Boston Celtics (2 years, $10M)

Maxi Kleber – Dallas Mavericks (4 years, $35M)

Elfrid Payton – New York Knicks (2 years, $16M)

Troy Daniels – LA Lakers (1 year, $2.1M)

Michael Carter-Williams – Orlando Magic (1 year)

Wayne Ellington – New York Knicks (2 years, $16M)

Tomas Satoransky – Chicago Bulls (3 years, $30M)

Ish Smith – Washington Wizards (2 years, $12M)

Timberwolves receive: Shabazz Napier, Treveon Graham (via Golden State)

Miami Heat receive: Jimmy Butler, Meyers Leonard

Philadelphia 76ers receive: Josh Richardson

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Hassan Whiteside

Los Angeles Clippers receive: Mo Harkless, future first-round pick

Day one

Kyrie Irving – Brooklyn Nets (4 years, $141M)

Kevin Durant – Brooklyn Nets (4 years, $164M)

D’Angelo Russell – Golden State Warriors (4 years, $117M)

Kemba Walker – Boston Celtics (4 years, $141M)

Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors (5 years, $190M)

Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers (4 years, $194M)

Al Horford – Philadelphia 76ers (4 years, $109M)

Tobias Harris – Philadelphia 76ers (5 years, $180M)

Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks (5 years, $178M)

DeAndre Jordan – Brooklyn Nets (4 years, $40M)

Julius Randle – New York Knicks (3 years, $63M)

Derrick Rose – Detroit Pistons (2 years, $15M)

Trevor Ariza – Sacramento Kings (2 years, $25M)

JJ Redick – New Orleans Pelicans (2 years, $26.5M)

Kristaps Porzingis – Dallas Mavericks (5 years, $158M)

Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets (5 year, $170M extension)

Malcom Brogdon – Indiana Pacers (4 years, $85M)

Harrison Barnes – Sacramento Kings (4 years, $85M)

Bojan Bogdanovic – Utah Jazz (4 years, $73M)

Terry Rozier – Charlotte Hornets (3 years, $58M)

Nikola Vucevic – Orlando Magic (4 years, $100M)

Derrick Favours – New Orleans (traded in exchange for picks)

Andre Iguodala – Memphis Grizzlies (trade/salary dump)

Terrence Ross – Orlando Magic (4 years, $54M)

Brook Lopez – Milwaukee Bucks (4 years, $52M)

Robin Lopez – Milwaukee Bucks (2 years, $10M)

Ricky Rubio – Phoenix Suns (3 years, $51M)

Jonas Valanciunas – Memphis Grizzlies (3 years, $45M)

Thaddeus Young – Chicago Bulls (3 years, $41M)

Patrick Beverley – LA Clippers (3 years, 40M)

Dewayne Dedmon – Sacramento Kings (3 years, $41M)

Corey Joseph – Sacramento Kings (3 years, $37M)

Rudy Gay – San Antonio Spurs (2 years, $32M)

Jeremy Lamb – Indiana Pacers (3 years, $31.5M)

Bobby Portis – New York Knicks (2 years, $31M)

George Hill – Milwaukee Bucks (3 years, $29M)

Al-Farouq Aminu – Orlando Magic (3 years, $29M)

Reggie Bullock – New York Knicks (2 years, $21M)

Taj Gibson – New York Knicks (2 years, $20M)

Ed Davis – Utah Jazz (2 years, $10M)

Rodney Hood – Portland Trail Blazers (2 years, $16M)

Nerlens Noel – Oklahoma City Thunder

Mike Scott – Philadelphia 76ers (2 years, $9.8M)

Thomas Bryant – Washington Wizards (3 years, $25M)

DeMarre Carroll – San Antonio Spurs (2 years, $13M)

Garrett Temple – Brooklyn Nets (2 years, $10M)

Mike Muscala – Oklahoma City Thunder

Danuel House – Houston Rockets (3 years, $11.1M)

Gerald Green – Houston Rockets (1 year, $2.5M)

Mario Hezonjia – Portland Trail Blazers (1 year, $1.7M)

Best remaining free agents

Kawhi Leonard

DeMarcus Cousins

Danny Green

Markieff Morris

Marcus Morris

Justin Holiday

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

Kelly Oubre (R)

Willie Cauley-Stein (R)

Jeff Green

Iman Shumpert

Rajon Rondo

Stanley Johnson (R)

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