Curry due an extension, Iguodala may seek return
NBA free agency started on Monday afternoon, which means it will be a busy few days for the Warriors as they attempt to retool for what they hope is another deep postseason run.
While the Warriors are busy targeting free agents they hope to bring aboard, they’re also ready to make sure Stephen Curry sticks around at least four more years.
Curry will soon agree to a fouryear, $215 million maximum extension, according to Marc Stein.
Getting this extension done early would be a relief to the Warriors and potential free agents as general manager Bob Myers attempts to lure veterans to Golden State. Curry signing the extension now would be a sign of sta
bility for the franchise. Not that anyone doubted that Curry would play out his next contract with the only team he’s ever known, but things can change quickly in the NBA and this is assurance that any free agent signing a long-term deal can be confident he’s signing to a team with Curry on it.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat have elected not to pick up Andre Iguodala’s option for a $15 million contract, making the 37-year-old wing an unrestricted free agent. According to the AP’s Tim Reynolds, Iguodala is expected to speak with the Warriors during free agency.
While both sides would surely welcome a reunion, the question is how much it would cost. The Warriors have only the $5.9 million taxpayer mid-level exception (which can be split among multiple players) and minimum contracts available. If Iguodala is willing to take the minimum, the Warriors won’t hesitate to sign him. But if he demands a portion of the mid-level exception, there could be trepidation. After all, the organization is hoping to land a difference-maker with that exception and, at 37, Iguodala is not the same player he was during the height of Golden State’s dynasty.
There are already signs that Iguodala could be playing the market. Not long after Reynolds’ report, longtime NBA insider Arash Markazi reported that the Lakers are “in play to sign” Iguodala. To acquire Iguodala and his experience, playmaking and defensive expertise, the Warriors and Lakers may need to pony up and offer more than the minimum.
Money, though, may not be the only deciding factor for players choosing between the Warriors and Lakers. The Lakers reportedly agreed with Warriors free-agent Kent Bazemore on a one-year deal late Monday, despite Golden State offering more money, according to USA Today.
The Warriors hoped to retain Bazemore, who averaged 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 20 minutes per game this past season. According to USA Today, Bazemore also picked the Lakers because he sees them as a title contender and they offered him a prominent role. In other free-agent news: In an underwhelming wing market, Golden State’s top free agent, Kelly Oubre, is receiving significant interest from teams, according to a source. One of those teams could be the Spurs. According to Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News, Oubre would be interested in signing with the Spurs and believes he’d be a good fit and could thrive under coach Gregg Popovich.
• Although the Warriors showed interest in Nicolas Batum, the free-agent forward re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. The Warriors also attempted to sign Batum last year before Batum signed with the Clippers.
• Alen Smailagic, the 39th overall pick in the 2019 draft, will be waived before his Aug. 6 contract guarantee deadline, according to a league source. In two years in Golden State, Smailagic dealt with multiple injuries and looked overwhelmed in the little time he was on an NBA court. The 20-year-old was not on Golden State’s summer league roster and could return to Serbia. Waiving Smailagic gets the Warriors to 15 players under contract, including restricted free agent Nico Mannion, whose qualifying offer was picked up over the weekend and should compete for a job in training camp.