Three playoff teams enter the summer with major roster questions, varying salary-cap pressures and multiple draft choices that could shift their trajectories.
Golden State Warriors
ESPN’s way-too-early power rankings place Golden State at No. 16, a slot coach Steve Kerr privately mirrors, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater. Kerr said recent meetings with majority owner Joe Lacob focused on “a much more reality-based shared vision on what success looks like for us.”
The front office has several options: re-signing Kristaps Porzingis, pursuing marquee free agents such as LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard, or shopping the trade market. Slater reported the club “will sniff around” deals but is not signaling a willingness to “swing a blockbuster that mortgages the future.”
Signs point to the Warriors keeping the No. 11 overall pick to add youth to an aging core as they manage the closing seasons of the Stephen Curry era.
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta won 18 of 20 late-season games and grabbed a 2-1 series lead on New York before falling to the eventual champions. ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk wrote that governor Onsi Saleh holds enough assets to either add veterans or continue developing a young nucleus that already includes emerging forward Jalen Johnson.
The organization controls the eighth and 23rd picks in next month’s draft but must address two rotation players: unrestricted free agent CJ McCollum and forward Jonathan Kuminga, whose contract contains a $24.3 million team option.
Philadelphia 76ers
Newly hired head of basketball operations Mike Gansey now oversees a roster led by Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and rookie guard VJ Edgecombe. Veteran wing Paul George also remains under a sizeable contract, leaving Philadelphia with limited flexibility.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps noted that with three max contracts already on the ledger, the club is almost certain to enter the luxury tax if it re-signs unrestricted free agents Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes. Gansey’s immediate tasks include the draft and free agency, both fast approaching.
Source: Hoops Wire
