The Warriors have one of the highest payrolls in the league.
According to Spotrac, Golden State’s active cap figure of just over $171 million is second in the NBA behind the Los Angeles Clippers. Their total cap figure of $210.2 million is second to only the Atlanta Hawks.
However, when you take luxury tax figures into account, including the fact that Golden State is in the repeater tax, they have a reported payroll of approximately $346 million.
That was brought up by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst after the Warriors took a 3-2 series lead over the Celtics on Monday night, who said that the Dubs won as much with their play on the floor as they did with their checkbook.
“Andrew Wiggins, he’s not an underdog, he makes $32 million,” Windhorst said. “While the Warriors were down these last couple of years winning no games, they kept spending money, because they’ve got it. They re-signed Draymond Green, they re-signed Steph Curry, they re-signed Kevon Looney, they kept Andrew Wiggins. Boy did it show up tonight.
“Andrew Wiggins with the supreme moment in his career. He was the throw-in in a trade, other teams would have totally gotten rid of him. They have a $340 million payroll when you consider taxes. You don’t just have to beat the Warriors on the court, you have to beat their checkbook. Nothing away from Andrew Wiggins tonight but this was a checkbook win for the Warriors.”
Take whatever you will from that comment, but it’s important to remember that four members of the Warriors starting lineup — Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney — were homegrown.
The Celtics also have a core of homegrown stars, and have the fifth highest payroll in the NBA at $156.3 million.