The Warriors' reported pursuit of LeBron James may depend heavily on what happens with Kristaps Porzingis in free agency. If the veteran big man agrees to a team-friendly contract, Golden State could gain the financial flexibility needed to make its ambitious offseason plans a reality.
The Golden State Warriors pursuit of LeBron James could come down to more than just convincing the NBA superstar to join forces with Stephen Curry.
A less-discussed factor may end up playing a major role in the Warriors' offseason plans: Kristaps Porzingis and his next contract.
Golden State is reportedly exploring a path that would allow the team to sign James using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. However, pulling off that move would create a hard cap at the first apron, leaving the Warriors with limited financial flexibility for the rest of the roster.
According to SI's Joey Akeley, the Warriors' ideal scenario would involve signing James while also bringing back Porzingis on a team-friendly deal. The challenge is finding a number that helps Golden State remain below the hard cap.
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Porzingis earned $30.7 million last season, but his market value remains difficult to predict after multiple injury setbacks.
Over the last two years, the Latvian center has missed 90 regular-season games, creating uncertainty about how aggressively teams will pursue him in free agency.
While league executives generally view a contract in the $10 million to $25 million range as more realistic, a lower salary would give the Warriors much more room to maneuver as they attempt to reshape the roster.
The appeal of keeping Porzingis is easy to understand. When healthy, he provides floor spacing, rim protection, and size around the basket, all qualities that would complement both Curry and James.
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