A report last week from Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports stated that the Warriors were prepared to match any offer sheet for restricted free agent Patrick McCaw. We will soon find out if that's still the case.
McCaw will sign a two-year, $6 million offer sheet with the Cavaliers, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. As of Friday afternoon, Golden State had yet to receive a copy of the offer sheet, but once it is in hand, the Warriors will have 48 hours to match. The deal is worth $3 million in each of the next two seasons, but it is non-guaranteed. The Warriors or Cavs could waive McCaw before Jan. 7, and they wouldn't be liable for the rest of his salary.
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Last season, McCaw struggled off the bench, averaging 4.0 points on 40.9 percent shooting from the field and 23.8 percent from 3-point range. Despite a sophomore slump, the 23-year-old shooting guard has plenty of upside and could thrive in the right role.
However, there are a few reasons why Golden State might think twice before matching the deal.
Cleveland's offer sheet is not all that expensive — McCaw turned down a two-year, $5 million offer from the Warriors before the season — but the luxury tax comes into play here. If Golden State's front office decides to keep McCaw, add another $11 million to the final number.
Matching the Patrick McCaw offer sheet would see the Golden St. tax bill increase from $50.3M to $61.6M.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 28, 2018
There are also issues with team construction. The Warriors would like to keep a roster spot open, which creates more opportunities should they target a player on the trade or buyout market. Golden State knows DeMarcus Cousins will be returning at some point this season, so that has to be taken into account as well. The Warriors must determine whether McCaw is a valuable piece moving forward or if someone like Alfonzo McKinnie (5.6 points, 46.9 percent shooting, 38.5 percent 3-point shooting) can fill that spot.
The biggest issue could be what happens within the locker room if McCaw rejoins the Warriors. As Wojnarowski notes, McCaw clearly doesn't want to play for Golden State. Is he willing to change his attitude? Would his teammates accept him or hold a grudge?
"You can’t do this after two years (in the league)," one Warriors player told The Athletic's Marcus Thompson in October. "You've got to get the clout first. He doesn’t have the leverage."
Considering what happened with Draymond Green and Kevin Durant earlier this season, throwing McCaw into the mix might not be the best idea for a Warriors team in an unusual funk. McCaw's on-court impact likely wouldn't outweigh the possibility of creating a more combustible environment.
While the Warriors had every intention of retaining McCaw and bolstering their depth as they chase another championship, the factors involved with matching the Cavs' offer sheet could lead Golden State down a different path — one that doesn't include McCaw.
