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Warriors general manager Larry Riley pulled off what many thought wasn't possible: moving forward Corey Maggette's contract.
Golden State traded Maggette and the remaining three years, $31 million of his contract and their second-round draft pick (No. 44) to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. In exchange, the Warriors get future salary cap relief and center Dan Gadzuric and guard Charlie Bell.
Maggette, 31, played two seasons with the Warriors. The Bucks get a veteran scorer who became even more of a need after they learned guard John Salmons was opting out of his contract to become a free agent. Maggette averaged 19.8 points per game on 51.6 percent shooting last season.
"This year he played a lot at (power forward) when he's a natural (small forward)," Riley said. "He answered the bell several times and played when he was injured."
The move doesn't help the Warriors get into the free-agent pool this year. It actually increases next year's salary cap figure by about $2 million. But it does free up more than $6 million in cap space for 2011-12, and $10.9 million in salary for the 2012-13 season.
Also, Gadzuric, Kelenna Azubuike, and forward Vladimir Radmanovic (who is expected to exercise his $6.9 million player option) represent some $17.5 million in expiring contracts.
But how does this help the Warriors — who have recently made cap-cutting moves and let expiring contracts go to waste?
Trading Maggette aids the
The deal also puts the Warriors in serious need of a small forward. Without Maggette, the Warriors have only Azubuike and Reggie Williams at that position. Not only are both really shooting guards who can play small forward, but Azubuike is still on the mend from major left knee surgery and Williams hasn't played an entire NBA season.
But without Maggette's contract on the books, Golden State will be in much better position to go after the legitimate small forward they desire — such as Memphis' Rudy Gay or Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala. Or, the Warriors may be more aggressive to move up in Thursday's draft to get Ohio State's Evan Turner or Syracuse's Wesley Johnson.
"I've probably gone as far as I go," Riley said of his attempts at moving up in the draft from No. 6. "But, no doubt I'm going to be making calls today and tomorrow."
Riley, though, said it wasn't just a salary cap deal. He pulled the trigger on the trade to get some veteran depth. Gadzuric, entering his ninth NBA season out of UCLA, gives the Warriors depth at center, where they were injury-plagued last season. Bell was a reliable backup and part-time starter during his five seasons in Milwaukee.
"Our team didn't need to get younger," Riley said. "Both of them have been in the league long enough to bring veteran experience. (Gadzuric) gives us kind of a three-headed center. He brings some size and athleticism that we haven't enjoyed at that position. And Charlie Bell is a pro. One thing he can do that we need is defend. We're looking to him to be a contributor on both ends of the floor."
For Bell, the Warriors are on the hook for two years and $8.5 million. Bell is due $4.4 million this coming season, including a 15 percent bonus activated when he was traded to the Warriors. Gadzuric has one year left worth $7.24 million.
The trade pushed the Warriors' salary cap figure just over $55 million for the coming season, which is right around where the salary cap is expected to fall.
That may mean, however, that the Warriors may not be able to bring back forward Anthony Tolliver (unrestricted) or guard C.J. Watson (restricted), both of whom are free agents — especially if the team is looking to sign someone to the mid-level exception.
If the Warriors add a big man on draft day, a center figures to become expendable, too.
"We will investigate all possible trades throughout the summer," Riley said. "We'll just keep turning over rocks."
