The Warriors and the Suns failed to compete with Gordon, and the reason was helpless, and it was also the reason why the Warriors were difficult to reinforce
The Warriors were close to signing free agent guard Eric Gordon, but several key factors made them uncompetitive.
Anthony Slater of Sporting News wrote in an article published Monday that Gordon ultimately chose to join the Phoenix Suns because of contract and fit issues.
Slater said Gordon's two-year contract with the Suns allegedly includes a player option for a second season, while the Warriors are reluctant to offer a similar structure on a minimum salary contract for free agents because players can exercise the option the following year, when the team may be different. Then, there are the financial aspects.
Slater wrote: "But the contract amount factor is a more immediate hindrance. A 16-year veteran like Gordon will be signed on a contract with a minimum salary of $3.2 million for next season, but only about $2.01 million goes toward the salary cap if it's a one-year contract. "In the case of a multi-year contract, the full $3.2 million would go toward the salary cap." Multiply that by the double tax, and if the Warriors offered Gordon the same multi-year veteran base salary contract as the Phoenix, that would add about $7 million in expenses. ”
As "Warriors fans" know, the Warriors have exceeded the "second luxury tax line" included in the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement and have taken steps to open the books. Teams that exceed the $1.825 million second luxury tax standard this season will lose the $5 million middle-class exception, and there will be more restrictions in the future.
Slater reported that Gordon was the Warriors' early "main backcourt target" in the free agency market, noting that the Warriors liked his "sense of space, defensive ability, personal qualities and playoff experience" at the fourth guard position.
While Gordon ultimately chose the Phoenix, largely because of that second-year option, Slater believes that having more playing time with the Suns also had an impact on the decision. The Warriors' starting lineup has been decided, with plenty of bench players vying for playing time, but it's different at Phoenix.
Slater wrote: "This week, the Phoenix gave their veteran base-salary contracts something the Warriors didn't have. At the Suns, there are clearer opportunities to get bigger roles. In addition to the established starting lineup of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and DeAndre Ayton, they have a starting spot and plenty of bench minutes to choose from. Gordon also gets a lot of playing time in the playoffs."
After losing Gordon, the Warriors turned to guard Corey Joseph, who reportedly agreed on Sunday to a one-year contract with the Golden State Warriors. The 12-year NBA player offered the depth the Warriors saw in Gordon, and the one-year contract also saved the Warriors a fortune, although Gordon's shooting percentage of 42.3 percent with the Los Angeles Clippers this season was a perfect fit for the Warriors' style, and the Warriors had to give up.
Even after trading most of their young core players, the Warriors will have to think about future decisions because of new collective bargaining agreements. Although Gordon may contribute to them for the 2023-24 season, in the end the two sides did not reach a consensus. #Micro Headline Creation Project##NBA Opens ##NBA吐槽大会 Wholeheartedly#
