Could the Warriors really sign Griffin?
Hey, Dieter is a weekly wrapup of the questions that I receive via email, Twitter, radio call-ins, and my morning rooms on the Locker Room app.
Also, questions I receive in more analog ways. What a concept!
Blake Griffin to the Warriors? — Bud via Slack (among so many others)
I don’t see it happening, though I wasn’t surprised to see that Marc Stein of the New York Times reported that the Warriors had expressed interest in Griffin ahead of his buyout in Detroit.
There are a few things to unwrap with the former All-Star, who is in his age-32 season.
The first is that his best basketball is long, long past him. It puts in perspective how incredible Steph Curry’s season is, right?
But I think Griffin can still put the ball in the basket as a reserve player. Defense? That’s going to be an issue, but as a second-unit ace, Griffin might have something to give Golden State. The Warriors can use anyone who can score.
There wouldn’t be much downside on the Warriors’ part to signing him to a minimumvalue deal, even with the luxury tax on top of it.
There is some history, though — I don’t think there’s a player Draymond Green enjoys locking up more, and I don’t think that’s a mutual respect thing — and I doubt Griffinwouldwanttoplayfora team that, let’s face it, isn’t going to win a title unless it brings more than him into the fold.
If he really wants to experience the play-in tournament, then Golden State might be his spot. Jokes aside, I think he’d prefer that to going back to the Clippers — that relationship ended on bad terms. The Lakers don’t seem like a fit for him. Miami is an option, for sure, but I’d bet that he’ll go to Brooklyn, where his quality of life will be upgraded (compared to Detroit), his lack of defense will be celebrated, and he’ll probably win a ring.
Also, take notice of the markets. Those are the go-to spots for players in the NBA: LA, New York, Miami.
That’s why, even though I don’t think Griffin is looking at a Zillow page of San Francisco (rents are way down!), the Warriors should be honored if Griffin even considers their interest. The Warriors aren’t widely considered part of that topmarket coterie anymore. A bit of external validation would be nice.
Kyle Rudolph to the 49ers? Does 1 year get it done?— Stephen on Twitter
I’ve liked the Rudolph fit for the 49ers for a few years now. The tight end was released by the Vikings earlier this week after 10 years, but there had been rumblings that he was on his way out for a few seasons now, hence my thought exercise.
But now it’s come to fruition, and I don’t think it was his level of play that ran him out of Minnesota. No, it was his cost. And that’s going to be a huge issue across the NFL this month. (More on that later.)
Now, Rudolph would be a perfect counterpart to George Kittle in the 49ers’ offense — he can block, catch, and knows the wide-zone offense like the back of his hand.
But if he’s going to come to San Francisco, he’s going to have to do it for a low, low, low price. The Niners can’t afford to re-sign their own players — even though many would likely take a discount to stay. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan will bring in people from outside the facility this offseason, but don’t expect San Francisco to be in any bidding wars for free agents.
The one-year contract aspect of the question is interesting because it’s
the main topic of conversation with NFL front offices and agents right now.
The salary cap, after going up by seven figures year after year after year, is expected (though not guaranteed) to drop by roughly $18 million this season. Obviously, a number of teams around the NFL were not prepared for such an occurrence and will spend all offseason looking for ways to become cap compliant. Frankly, I have no idea how the New Orleans Saints, who are $61 million over the cap — which includes Drew Brees’ retirement — will pull it off.
But with a market contraction, players who are free agents will have to make a tough decision — will they take on the risk and seek a one-year deal to re-enter the free-agent market in 2022, when the cap will likely rise, or will they take the security of term, even though the money won’t be as good, even with backloading?
Remember, though: the Niners have shown a willingness to go big at tight end — they made a competitive offer on Austin Hooper last March, though some allege that was just to scare Kittle in contrast negotiations — and they can be pretty creative with deals.
It’s a lot of hoops to jump through for the Niners to make something like this happen. I’d love to see it happen — my affinity for the
tight end position is well documented — but it’s hard to see it happening.
How many NBAcaliber players do the Warriors have? — Jack on Locker Room
That’s a sadly telling question for the 1918 Dubs, no? Let’s break down the active roster.
And let me flip the question, as to not waste your time by explaining that Steph Curry is an NBA player.
Of the guys on vet minimum deals, I’d say that Kent Bazemore and Damion Lee are NBAcaliber players. Lee just sneaks in.
Of the youngsters, I’d say that Mychal Mulder makes the cut, but, again, just barely.
Shooting is important, and the criteria for being an NBA-caliber player is that another team would pick you up and give you rotational minutes if you were cut from the Warriors.
So what we’re really talking about here is if Jordan Poole, Alen Smailagic, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Nico Mannion, Eric Paschall, and Brad Wanamaker are NBA-caliber players.
Right now, ToscanoAnderson probably can make the best case. He’s an energy guy who can play multiple positions, defend, and knock down enough shots to validate his sporadic playing time. Plus, you have to have an Oakland guy on every team. That should
be a rule.
After him, things become murky.
Now, you might be saying to yourself “Dieter, Eric Paschall is not an NBA-caliber player?”
I’m not saying that. What I am saying is that he’s on the fence.
I like to think of bench players as bullpen arms — how many pitches do they have, and how good are those pitches? If they only have one pitch, that’s fine, so long as it’s a good one (top shooter, ace defender, energy guy).
I know Paschall’s jumper isn’t going in, so is his bully ball pitch still getting people out?
It’s going to be a big question that will be answered in the second half.
I loved what I saw from Poole on Thursday against the Suns. Moving forward, he deserves opportunities to show that he can continue that kind of play. But to presume he’s an NBA-level talent given his strong G League play and a nice game in a getout-of-town blowout loss, when there are 72 games preceding those performances that collectively disprove the notion, is foolhardy.
Mannion stands a chance — he’s 19 years old, so he has a longer window to prove his worth. Honestly, Smiley hasn’t shown enough to deserve the benefit of the doubt, but he has some kompromat on the Dubs’ front office.