The Golden State Warriors may have some negotiating to do this summer. Kristaps Porzingis joined the franchise at the Feb. 5 trade deadline and is in the final months of his current contract. Draymond Green could also opt out of his player option and look to renegotiate a new deal with the franchise.
According to Yossi Gozlan, via his “Third Apron” substack, the Warriors could negotiate new deals with both veterans, as that would give Mike Dunleavy Jr. some tradable assets should someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo become available on the trade market — either in the summer or at some point in the near future.
“It’ll be interesting to see how they handle Porzingis and Green’s contract negotiations,” Gozlan wrote. “Both can be extended to new deals now that could keep them trade-eligible for the offseason. For example, they could structure their first-year salaries so both can be aggregated for a max player like Antetokounmpo.”
We’re yet to see Porzingis suit up for the Warriors. However, his size, skill and mobility project to be perfect fits in Steve Kerr’s rotation. If he can stay healthy for the remainder of the season, it’s feasible that he does enough to convince the Warriors to sit down at the negotiating table during the summer. Meanwhile, it would make sense for Green to seek out some longer-term security with a new deal.
Dunleavy will have some important decisions to make this summer, regardless of whether the Warriors are interested in another pursuit of Giannis or another star. Still, inking Porzingis and Green to longer-term deals is likely the smartest move heading into the summer, if for nothing else other than flexibility in the trade market.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors could face two key contract decisions this summer
Reporting by Adam Taylor, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
