re: Harrison Barnes should we...

With the limited minutes that Festus is getting behind Bogut and Speights this post season, it's probably easy for them to let him go, especially if they are offered something in exchange. Then if Durant wants to come next season, they can let Harrison get his max money elsewhere too, and also maybe get something in exchange. So for sure it is possible they let BOTH leave. GSW is in a great spot. It will be a matter of preference, not cap, who will be starting for them next season. There will be no pure cap casualties here.

If they wanted to keep both Barnes and Festus though, it's possible.
(here are some projected NBA salary cap numbers going forward, with some analysis and explanation LINK / LINK )


With that $89MM-92MM number being thrown around for next year, and only $74MM+ committed (including Shaun Livingston who will likely be reworked and extended) they can get under the cap with the holds in place for Harrison and Festus, and sign them over. A back to back champion and the most popular team in the league COULD for sure do that.

With some creative deals closer to $18MM per than $20MM, BOTH guys can be kept long term. They should be able to squeeze Speights and McAdoo in there too, because Festus might not draw near that full $ value. Keeping the core team near fully intact for NEXT year. Then you can give Steph whatever he wants in 2017-18, because no way then 33 year old Bogut and 34 year old Iguodala are being extended.

If they want to keep Klay, Draymond, Harrison, Festus, and Steph.... the cap and tax are expanding at the perfect time for them to do it. Crazy to think that in 2 years from now they can have: Steph Curry, 30 - Klay Thompson, 28 - Festus Ezeli, 28 - Draymond Green, 28 - Harrison Barnes, 25 ... ALL locked up, in their primes.

Bench of Livingston, 32 - Speights, 30 - McAdoo, 25 - Kevon Looney, 22?

SCARY good.