Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
The Warriors didn’t wait until Feb. 6 to begin unloading.
Willie Cauley-Stein is on the move, being traded to Dallas in exchange for Utah’s 2020 second-round pick, ESPN first reported Friday.
The Mavericks were willing to part with the extra pick after big man Dwight Powell ruptured his right Achilles on Tuesday, and they immediately pick up a backup center to replace him.
Cauley-Stein, who plays solid defense, averaged 7.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in 22.9 minutes per game with Golden State since signing in the offseason. With his salary now on Mark Cuban’s books — as well as for next year, as the 26-year-old has a player option — the Warriors reportedly drop $2.57 million below the hard cap. According to The Chronicle, this would allow the Warriors to convert both Ky Bowman’s and Marquese Chriss’ two-way deals to guaranteed NBA contracts. And while the Warriors now have two open roster spots, what they do next remains to be seen.
Without Cauley-Stein, the Warriors will have more time to give Chriss, Omari Spellman and even Alen Smailagic.