When the clock strikes 6:01 p.m. ET today, a much-anticipated NBA free agency period will begin that could dramatically change the Golden State Warriors roster for the 2019-20 season and potentially shape the team’s championship prospects for years to come.
Reports and rumors have swirled for months about free agency possibilities for the Warriors’ best player, Kevin Durant, who helped the team to two championships (2017, 2018) and won Finals MVP awards in both years. But Durant is not alone in free agency. Other players who’ve been integral to the Warriors’ success in recent years also could take their talents elsewhere.
Here are the Golden State free agents, their 2018-19 season stats and their prospects for staying in the Bay:
Next: Jordan Bell
Jordan Bell
Restricted free agent
Regular season: 11.6 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Postseason: 7.1 minutes, 2.7 points, 1.3 rebounds
Signing status: Warriors extended a $1.8 million qualifying offer, making Bell a restricted free agent (per Logan Murdock on June 28).
Prospects for staying in the Bay: With so many players going down with injuries in the postseason, Bell got a little more playing time and made the most of it. His postseason stats are deceptive, though. He hit big shots when the team needed him most and he played committed defense. Despite the off-court issues Bell has had during his time in Golden State, the Warriors obviously see enough in him to want to keep him around. He’s been through a lot with the organization and has said he wants to stay in Golden State. It seems that only a dramatically higher offer from another team would pull him away.
Next: Quinn Cook
Quinn Cook
Restricted free agent
Regular season: 14.3 minutes, 6.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Postseason: 11.4 minutes, 4.2 points, 1.1 rebounds
Signing status: Warriors extended a $1.8 million qualifying offer on Saturday, June 30, making Cook a restricted free agent (per Mark Medina on June 29). After the official start of free agency, the team will have three days to match or exceed offer sheets from other teams.
Prospects for staying in the Bay: Cook filled in when Stephen Curry was out with injury and made the most of those regular-season starts, averaging 14.3 points. His defensive game, however, isn’t quite comparable to what he can offer on offense and several teams have expressed interest in his services, including the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks, per Alex Kennedy on June 29. Weaknesses on defense plus other teams willing to make bigger offers make it unlikely that Cook will suit up for the Warriors in 2019-20.
Next: DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins
Unrestricted free agent
Regular season: 25.7 minutes, 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.3 steals
Postseason: 16.6 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Signing status: Following his ruptured Achilles, Cousins wasn’t able to command the big free agency payday he’d been hoping for and instead signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal with Golden State. The Warriors would love to keep Cousins but would be unable to pay him what he can command elsewhere. Per Marc J. Spears, several teams have expressed interest in Cousins.
Prospects for staying in the Bay: Cousins worked hard to get back onto the court in January following missing a year due to a ruptured Achilles. He made immediate contributions, but a quad injury at the start of the playoffs presented a major challenge, which he also overcame. Heading into an offseason healthy and able to work on his game, Cousins can become a game-changer for any team and it most likely will not be the Warriors. Due to contractual obligations with other players, the Warriors won’t be able to pay what Cousins can demand elsewhere. He missed a big payday after the Achilles injury so contract size will probably be the determining factor in where Cousins goes next.
Next: Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant
Unrestricted free agent
Regular season: 34.6 minutes, 26 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.1 blocks
Postseason: 36.8 minutes, 32.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 block, 1.1 steals
Signing status: Durant declined his $31.5 million player option with the Warriors on June 26 to become an unrestricted free agent. It has been reported that Stephen Curry will join Bob Myers in New York to pitch Durant on staying in Golden State. Despite having suffered an ACL injury and walking with a cane, it has been newly reported that Thompson will also make the trip to New York to try to convince Durant to remain a Warrior.
Prospects for staying in the Bay: With so many reports spinning about Durant’s free agency, the truth will not be known until he announces his decision. But if there is even a grain a truth to the reports that he holds the Warriors responsible in any way for his Achilles injury, Dub Nation should not expect Durant to sign with Golden State. It was a rough 2018-19 season and it would not be a surprise if Durant prefers to start over fresh somewhere new.
Next: Shaun Livingston
Shaun Livingston
Under contract
Regular season: 15.1 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Postseason: 14.6 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Signing status: The Warriors pushed back the date on which salary would be guaranteed to Livingston if he re-signs with the team. The franchise now has until July 10 to make a decision, freeing them of $7.7 million guaranteed. Now, if the Warriors waive Livingston, only $2 million of his last year’s contract will be guaranteed.
Prospects for staying in the Bay: Livingston announced during the playoffs that he is considering retirement. How things go with his contract — whether Livingston is waived — may greatly influence his decision on whether to retire after the 2019-20 season.
Next: Kevon Looney
Kevon Looney
Unrestricted free agent
Regular season: 18.5 minutes, 6.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Postseason: 20.6 minutes, 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Signing status: The Warriors own Looney’s Bird Rights and should expect teams to try to steal him away, with Mark Medina reporting Looney has plans to meet with the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls in addition to Golden State.
Prospects for staying in the Bay: Prior to the postseason, Andre Iguodala said he wants to see Looney go to whichever team offers the most money. After playing through injury to make major postseason contributions, Looney should expect to field much more lucrative offers than the Warriors can match, making it difficult for Golden State to retain his services.
Next: Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson
Unrestricted free agent
Regular season: 34 minutes, 21.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 blocks
Postseason: 39 minutes, 20.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals
Signing status: Thompson was reportedly concerned about how his ACL injury might affect his free agency and he was prepared to entertain offers from the Los Angeles Clippers if the Warriors did not come through with a max offer. Adrian Wojnarowski reported on June 29 that the Warriors are planning to offer Thompson a five-year, $190 million max deal.
Prospects for staying in the Bay: Thompson will miss the majority of the 2019-20 season but, when he returns, he knows he’ll have Splash Brother Stephen Curry in the backcourt with him. Thompson has said all along he wants to stay in Golden State. But if the rest of the roster looks dramatically different (such as if Durant does not return), he could entertain other offers. Chances are small, though, that he’ll be in any uniform other than Warriors blue next season.
This story will be updated as information becomes available.
Originally published on Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
