The Golden State Warriors are currently in some serious dilemma. Because of their severe salary cap constraints, Joe Lacob has failed to spread his wings in the trade market. To put it simply, having exceeded the $140.5M salary cap by about $36 million, the Bay Area front office cannot fill the 15th spot on their 2024-25 roster. With a 14-man roster and three two-contracts, what will the owner do?

Anthony Slater of The Athletic has scanned through the issue to understand what is happening with the Dubs. Well, it looks like Joe Lacob isn’t in any position to promise anything to Steve Kerr and his boys. However, the team has maintained a normal composure throughout the training season in September. As always, they’re mixing young talents with the guys on their roster during scrimmages. Meanwhile, veteran free agents stand in queues to receive invitations from the camp.

Meanwhile, Slater on NY Times, debates that unlike 3 years ago, the Warriors are on shaky grounds. “As 2024 training camp nears, there’s even less drama about the Warriors’ open 15th spot. It won’t be filled. Because of the new collective bargaining agreement rules, it can’t.” He further wrote, “Because of the Klay Thompson sign-and-trade that brought back Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield, the Warriors have locked themselves at the just-created first apron.”

According to the rules, teams can relax until the first apron, but exceeding that will lead to penalties, and Joe Lacob surely wouldn’t want that. Moreover, “The team’s collective salary can’t exceed $178.1 million. They are currently less than $1 million under it, leaving no room for a 15th player.”

Joe Lacob and Co. face a problem because Pat Spencer, Reece Beekman, and Daeqwon Plowden fill all 3 of the Warriors‘ two-way contracts. Meanwhile, Plowden had been excellent in the summer league. So will the team be willing to let go of him? Unfortunately, they must release one of the 3 from their two-way deal in the upcoming days to make room for Quinten Post, who continues to be in the Warriors’ two-way contract and in their plans.

Joe Lacob could be opting for a non-veteran training camp ahead of the 2024-25 preseason games, expecting less movement

While veterans like Justin Holiday and Nassir Little are available options for the camp, the path to a roster spot is challenging. Anthony Slater believes, “(They) must face when deciding whether to pursue a camp invite from the Warriors or elsewhere. The path to a regular-season roster spot is impeded.” Meanwhile, two players, Gui Santos and Lindy Waters III, hold non-guaranteed contracts. Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr., have invested quite a lot in the significant development of Santos, so his exit is most unlikely. Therefore, not much roster movement is expected as the Warriors finalize their plans for training camp.

The Warriors’ decisions rely on the monetary situation of the team, which isn’t favorable. Especially with less than a million under the first apron limit, adding a 15th name to the roster would throw them on the penalty chopping board. Moreover, with Klay‘s exit, Joe Lacob’s somewhat helpless situation was out before the world. According to Draymond Green, Captain Klay‘s departure favored the Warriors. His disagreement on the $48 million for a two-year contract saved the club further from monetary troubles.

Klay Thompson gave the team a cap relief on his way out. Thus helping the team retain the ‘less than $1 M’ amount under the cost cap. So, with a tough season ahead and a shaky roster so far, what will the Dubs do? Moreover, Joe Lacob’s plans (if any) need to see the light of dawn. The upcoming steps need to be taken with care so that Steve Kerr’s work gets smoother with time.

Can the Dubs do that? Can the team reclaim their dynasty with so much pressure on their shoulders?

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.