With the new CBA expected to include an amnesty – a one-time opportunity to payoff a player and not have his salary count against the cap. For the longest time, it has been the expectation that the Warriors will use their amnesty on Biedrins. Talk of that has heated up with the new CBA forthcoming.
But, it won’t happen. Not even an option.
Sounds crazy, right? Biedrins has been nothing shy of a disappointment the last two seasons – at $9 million a year. With three years, $27 million left on his contract, the Warriors would seem to benefit by cutting ties while they can.
But the Warriors won’t stand to gain much by walking away from Biedrins, at least not enough to outweigh the potential ramifications.
Here are 5 reasons the Warriors won’t Amnesty Biedrins:
1. That is a lot of money to pay a guy to leave. Joe Lacob is a guy who didn’t want to pay the luxury tax even before the new deal. He clearly isn’t a big spender. For him to take a $27 million hit for some cap flexibility doesn’t sound like him.
2. The Warriors still believe Biedrins can return to form. General manager Larry Riley has said in the past he thinks it’s possible. And when they analyze Biedrins among other centers in the league, they don’t think he’s that bad. In a league short on quality big men, Biedrins can hold his own. If he gets close to what he was, he becomes a top 10 center.
3. Biedrins, the Warriors continue to believe, has some value. It may not be what they wanted in return, but some teams are willing to take Biedrins off Golden State’s hands. (Miami certainly wouldn’t mind having him) If the Warriors want to get rid of him, they can just trade him for the best offer they can get and at least get something for him, without having to pay his remaining $27 million.
4. The Warriors need Biedrins. What happens if they amnesty him then strike out on the good free agent centers? They’re starting center options are Ekpe Udoh, Lou Amundson and David Lee – all power forwards who leave quite a bit to be desired as centers. The Warriors are better off hoping Biedrins gets closer to what he was, hoping Mark Jackson can get something out of him. If they land another big man first, ok. Now they can afford to move him. But it’s too risky to move him with the hope of signing a starting center.
5. Moving Biedrins could come back to haunt the Warriors. If he gets bought out, he would become pretty cheap to potential suitors – making him much more attractive. What if he lands with Phoenix for the veterans minimum, or Portland, or Houston? The Warriors could wind up helping a team they might be competing against for a playoff spot. Imagine if the Warriors amnesty Biedrins, Houston or Phoenix picks him up for dirt cheap, the Warriors don’t get Nene or Chandler an end up missing the playoffs – with Biedrins’ squad getting the eighth seed thanks to their new center.
The obvious candidate is Charlie Bell. He has a year left for $4 million – enough to make a difference in the salary cap number but not enough to make Lacob lose any sleep. What’s more, the Warriors won’t be left with a huge hole in the rotation upon Bell’s departure.
And, for those thinking about it, no David Lee is not being considered for the Amnesty. If Lacob is hesitant to give up $27 million to get rid of someone, he won’t do it for more than $69 million. If the Warriors are worried about Biedrins producing for a potential playoff contender, imagine how worried they’d be about Lee landing in Phoenix or Denver.
There is no way Lee is sent packing.