The Golden State Warriors made a surprising run through the western conference playoffs last season while defeating the Denver Nuggets in an upset and after signing Andre Iguodala as a free agent after a sign and trade deal, could the team be looking to move star David Lee later this summer?
The Warriors clearly have a talented team with Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry and after adding Iguodala, the team may be ready to move some salary to get some flexibility and that could mean a trade with Lee. There is still $44 million left on Lee's deal and that could create some issues if they try and move him, but any team that wants a forward that is consistent with double-doubles would be wise to ask about Lee. According to Yahoo Sports, Lee was on the trading block before the team signed Iguodala and while the talk on that has cooled since then, there is a good chance that he could still move late down the line.
The team has a talented roster with Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson on the wings and with Andrew Bogut holding down the middle, the Warriors may feel it is in their best interests to try and trade Lee eventually. The team took the Spurs to six games after defeating the heavily favored Nuggets to win in their first round matchup and the team also signed Jermaine O'Neal as well. Lee averaged 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds last season and despite the three years and $44 million left on his contract, a team looking for a quality forward could make a move.
The Warriors signed Iguodala to a four-year, $48 million deal in a trade that sent Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and Brandon Rush to the Jazz along with four draft picks and cash as well as guard Randy Foye to the Nuggets. Last season Iguodala averaged 13 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds last season and now he joins the team that ended the Nuggets run last year.
Mark Jackson has been a huge reason for the team's turnaround, as the Warriors were 23-43 before going 47-35 last season. The playoffs were a huge deal, as the Nuggets were a 57-win team that looked unbeatable at home, but the Warriors took them down and moved on into the second round where they also gave the Spurs fits. Douglas was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and also played for the Knicks and he has career averages of 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 246 career regular-season NBA games.
The Warriors feel that they are entering a new era after defeating the Nuggets in the playoffs and signing Iguodala as well as Toney Douglas helps alleviate the loss of Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry, who both signed elsewhere. Jack signed a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers after starring off the bench for the Warriors, while Landry signed a four-year deal to return to the Sacramento Kings after having a solid season.
Douglas's deal became official this week and he will help make up for the loss of Jack on a four-year, $25 million deal with Cleveland after averaging 7.5 points and 2.1 assists in 18.1 minutes per game. There is a chance he will get more playing time than he did last season with the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings and he will provide depth on the roster for Jackson, who now will be signed with the team through the 2015 season after the team picked up his option.