Golden State Warriors Prepare For Busy Off-Season
OAKLAND (CBS SF) – Still stinging from being dethroned as NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors were preparing for an extremely busy off-season as the clock counted down to opening of the free agent market.
On Wednesday, the team protected itself with the club's two high-profile free agents by making qualifying offers to both Harrison Barnes and center Festus Ezeli.
The move does not mean the two will be on the Warriors roster at the start of training camp in the fall, it merely means the team can match any offer the two receive and keep them on the roster if they desire.
Both Barnes and Ezeli are coming off disappointing performances in the final games against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
Barnes, whose career has been characterized by inconsistent play, only converted on 5-of-32 field goal attempts in the final three games against Cleveland.
Ezeli, who started in place of the injured center Andrew Bogut in the last two games of the NBA Finals, was also a non-factor as Cleveland dominated the paint.
The club has said it would be very active in the free agent market attempting to improve on a team that won a league record 73 regular season games.
The Warriors will reportedly meet with their No. 1 target -- free agent superstar Kevin Durant -- in New York on Friday.
While Durant has said he is thinking about re-signing with Oklahoma City, the Warriors hope to lure him with away the chance to team up with NBA All-Stars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green for a run at recapturing the NBA crown next season.
If they do sign Durant, Barnes, Ezeli and Bogut will all likely have to move on as the team creates sufficient cap room to sign the OKC star.
According to ESPN's Marc Stern, the Warriors do plan on keeping Shaun Livingston on the roster for next season. The team could still release Livingston on Thursday to save $2.7 million in cap money.
Livingston is set to make $5.7 million with Golden State next year.