FanPost

Debunking Dwight to Dub

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To be completely honest, I’m not sure how it all got started. But, whether it was a blogger, talking head, or Saul the Octopus (Paul the Octopus’s twin brother) doesn’t really matter. The fact remains that someone shook the "Dwight to Golden State" eight-ball, and not one person has shifted through the rubble to make sense of it.

Immediately after the season, I wrote about potential landing spots for Bynum, basing my facts solely on the assumptions that (a) he receives a max contract (somewhere between $17 million and $19 million per year, given the new cap settles around $61 million), and (b) he lands on a team that’s able to give him just that.

Here’s what I wrote as it pertains to Golden State (and yes, I’m about to quote myself.)

Significant Options: (takes a deep breath) Jefferson ($11 million Player Option), Biedrins ($9 million PO), Landry ($4 million PO), Rush ($4 million PO), Jack (Unrestricted Free Agent)

…There’s a few different ways we can approach the Warriors cap, all of which involve numerous incentives and maneuvering.

Shedding Bogut’s Expiring $14 million, All PO’s Signed: $59.4 million

With Bogut, All PO’s Signed: $73.4 million

Without Bogut, Only Biedrins and Jefferson Sign: $65.4 million

Without Bogut, Without PO’s: $31.4 million

Find Saul immediately. There’s clearly a lot to sort through here.

First of all, there’s the obvious issue of Bogut not only on the books for $14 million, but playing in Howard’s position. And if the Aussie were dangled as expiring trade-bait, who would bite? Sure, Bogut is considered a nice commodity around the league, but his suitor would have to have enough room to bring him in, which might be tough considering the market for bigs looks something like the available candy in Wonka’s Chocolate Factory (and no, I’m not talking about that shitty version featuring dubstep Oompa Loompas.)

Right now, the only thing that’s certain is Jefferson has picked up his option (and why wouldn’t he? If your boss caught you sleeping in your cubicle and offered you $11 million, wouldn’t you take it?) That means the Warriors cap currently sits around $55.6 million, give or take a few dollars. Throw in the pursuit of Jack and the options of Landry and Rush, and those numbers teeter beyond $61 million in no time.

(Quick tangent: I realize Jack, though a solid player, will be overpaid by some franchise out there. However, in the case of Golden State, I’m not sure what would be considered overpaying. There’s no doubt there are those guys out there that "just work" for certain teams, playing beyond their stats and potential for whatever reason. And, in the case of Marc Jackson and that particular roster, Jack undoubtedly "just works" for them. A two-year, $12 million deal in Oakland is completely different when compared to the same type of deal in Sacramento.)

(One last quick tangent: Sure, you didn’t ask, but since we’re already here, the "just works" All-Stars are Jack, Bonner, Dudley, Belinelli, and Z-Bo.)

Let’s play a quick game.

Player A last two seasons: 7.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.8 BPG, 45% FG, 44 GMS

Player B last two seasons: 18.5 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 2.3 BPG, 57% FG, 130GMS

Player C last two seasons: 18.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.9 BPG, 55% FG, 60 GMS

Need help? Ok, Player A scored 99 points per 100 possessions while allowing 100, Player B scored 105 points per 100 possessions and allowed 98, and Player C scored 112 points per possessions while allowing 100.

Fine, one more. This is probably giving away too much, but what if I told you Player A will be making $14 million this upcoming season, Player B will be collecting $19 million, and Player C will get around $15 million? If you guessed Bogut, Dwight, and Bynum, you’re correct! Of course, the NBA.com Stats Database doesn’t keep track of coach-kills and unwarranted drama, so we have to make due with contractual numbers and supposed chemistry, the latter being a runaway in favor of Bogut.

In fact, since we’re discussing injury-riddled headaches as a whole, wouldn’t Bynum and, say, Gronk be behind Howard? If anything, Gronk certainly has the lead in "Most Kick-Ass Moment" moments.

Yes, that's Gronk with LMFAO. I told you so.

Yes, that’s Gronk with LMFAO. I told you so.

And that’s what every GM, but more importantly, Bob Myers has to decide. What’s Howard’s worth? Shed a few pieces from your roster in order to sign a potential franchise player that may or may not be plagued with injures and thirst for attention, or keep the progressively developing band together, all in hopes of a few things going your way?

If it were me, I would go ahead and…well…


This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!