The Warriors are undergoing a big change this offseason, and the roster could change a lot. After a relatively unsuccessful season, it's time for the Warriors to make a change. On the one hand, the relationship between the Warriors and Klay Thompson has been stalemate, and the two sides are expected to break up, both emotionally and probably, Klay's departure is a loss for the Warriors. At the same time, the Warriors are also actively dealing with Andrew Wiggins' contract, and the possibility of trading him is being seriously considered, given his contract value and the team's salary space.
Then there's the veteran Paul. This summer, the fate of the Warriors and Paul seems to have come to an end. However, the way the Warriors treat Paul is particularly humane. Paul has one year left on his contract and is worth $30 million, which is a big burden for the Warriors, especially as they try to save money on luxury tax expenses. However, the Warriors did not simply choose to cut Paul, but instead gave him two options: one was to receive the $30 million in full, and the other was to cut Paul and give him the opportunity to take a pay cut to join other teams with championship potential.
Today, according to a report from NBA's Woj, Paul and the Warriors have agreed to postpone the guaranteed date of $30 million in his contract next season until the beginning of free agency. The contract was supposed to be fully guaranteed after today, giving the Warriors time to continue exploring trades. According to Kendra Andrews of The Athletic, the Warriors may also end up cutting Paul directly to free up salary space, and sources said that if there is a suitable trade, the Warriors still want to help Paul find a good next home.
In this way, the decision is up to Paul, and if Paul is willing to ask for the 30 million, he can negotiate with the Warriors to let the team execute the contract and trade Paul to a team that is more favorable to him. If Paul wants to give up the 30 million to join other teams to compete for the championship, the Warriors can also let the Warriors cut him so that he can chase the championship dream. The Warriors' handling of this is undoubtedly a sign of great respect for Paul, a 39-year-old veteran. Instead of ignoring the player's feelings and future for the sake of commercial interests, they gave him as much freedom of choice as possible.
This affectionate and righteous approach is in stark contrast to the way the Rockets treated Paul at the beginning, when the Rockets sold Paul, it was like losing a burden and burden. Even the day before, Morey told Paul that he would not trade him, and as a result, he turned around and sold Paul to the Thunder, with no respect at all. In terms of attitude towards Paul alone, the Warriors management is one notch higher than the Rockets management. Of course, the premise is that the rocket management of the Morey era. If it were Stone now, he might not have made such a ruthless decision.
In this league dominated by young players, the Warriors' respect and care for their veterans is undoubtedly a rare quality. This humanistic care of the Warriors has not only won the respect of the players, but also the praise of the fans. I wish Paul, a veteran who has played in the NBA for many years, whether he chooses to stay with the Warriors or choose to take a pay cut to compete for a championship, he deserves our respect and blessings.