Guide to the trade deadline: Warriors

The Vertical Insider Bobby Marks, a former longtime assistant general manager with the Nets, breaks down the Golden State Warriors’ situation as the Feb. 18 trade deadline approaches.

HANG UP IF THEY ASK ABOUT
The core group
NBA front offices know better than to even start a conversation centered on the Warriors’ current starters and key rotational players.

The psychological effect of moving a key rotational player could have a drastic impact on the mindset of the Warriors’ locker room.

UP FOR DEBATE
Marreese Speights

Coming off a career year, Speights has seen his play and minutes become sporadic this season. Although he will be a free agent this summer, Golden State should be leery of moving the 28-year-old. Speights has been effective in situational needs and moving him might come back to haunt the Warriors this spring.

Jason Thompson
Thompson has seen limited minutes since being acquired from Philadelphia in the off-season. He has a partial guarantee for 2016-17 and could be one of the few Warriors put in play come deadline time.

Because Golden State is positioned to be over the cap in July, the front-office mindset would be to entertain offers even if that means bringing back a guaranteed salary for next season. Locking in a salary does come with the long-term risk of being unable to create cap space in July.

NO-TRADE CLAUSE OR WITH A RESTRICTION
Leandro Barbosa
Barbosa signed a one-year contract and must consent to any trade Golden State wishes to make.

If Barbosa consents, his early Bird rights would not carry over to his new team.

Jason Thompson
Thompson, who was acquired from Philadelphia, cannot be traded back to the 76ers during the 2015-16 season

MOVE THAT PUSHES THE NEEDLE
Golden State is positioned for a long run into June. Health will be the key for the Warriors’ continued success this season.

TREASURE CHEST OF PICKS
Strong, based on the current players
Golden State did its damage in previous drafts with the selection of All-Stars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Keep an eye out for 2015 first-round pick Kevon Looney. With the strong player development staff in Golden State, Looney could turn out to be a steal in the seasons to come.

Golden State has its own first-round pick, projected to be No. 30.

As a result of the cap-clearing moves to obtain Andre Iguodala, the Warriors owe Utah an unprotected first-round pick in 2017. The move to obtain the versatile Iguodala was worth the draft compensation sent.

Golden State currently cannot trade a first-round pick until 2019.

AVAILABLE TRADE EXCEPTIONS
Golden State has two trade exceptions worth $5.3 million and $3.2 million.

Both exceptions will not expire until this summer.

With an $18 million tax bill this year, Golden State will have the flexibility to explore trades this summer with either trade exception. A new calendar year starts on July 1.

POST-TRADE DEADLINE ROSTER MOVEMENT
Golden State has 15 guaranteed contracts with no roster spots available.

The Warriors, like most teams, will pay attention to potential buyout candidates on March 1.

SNEAK PEEK TOWARD JULY
Golden State has $74 million in guaranteed salaries committed for the 2016-17 season. Factor in the $9.6 million and $5 million cap hold for restricted free agents Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli, respectively, and the Warriors will be positioned right at the salary cap.

If Barnes and Ezeli return, expect the Warriors’ payroll to be close to the projected luxury tax of $109 million.

Golden State does have some flexibility with the partially guaranteed contracts of Jason Thompson and Shaun Livingston. Thompson’s contract becomes guaranteed at the end of June, forcing the Warriors to make a decision after the season. Livingston has been a main cog in the Warriors’ success. With a contract of $5.7 million for next season, Livingston has huge value.

INSIDER INFO
Andrew Bogut has incentive bonuses that count toward his current contract. Last season, Bogut was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, triggering a $1.8 million bonus. Because the bonus was achieved, the NBA deems it likely for 2015-16. The likely bonus is added on top of his base pay of $12 million, thus creating a cap hit of $13.8 million for Golden State this season.

If Andrew Bogut misses out on this bonus, Golden State could save close to $4 million in luxury-tax penalties.

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