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Other trade speculation ... someone is going to end up taking Dale Davis off their hands and end up with $10M cap room this summer.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...0736958.htm?1c
Warriors mulling over trade options
By Marcus Thompson II
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
OAKLAND - Chris Mullin, the Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations, was back at practice Tuesday, working out and shooting with his team.
After weeks away in Europe scouting, Mullin returns with several big decisions waiting for him.
The looming Feb. 24 trade deadline offers one of the Warriors' last opportunities to make significant changes to roster that has not panned out thus far.
"You're always looking for upgrades no matter where you are," Mullin said after practice. "I thought we had good talent (coming into the year). We have to figure out what fits."
Probably heading the agenda is getting something for forward Clifford Robinson and center Dale Davis, who combined represent more than $15 million in salary cap space.
Robinson is in the final year of a deal that's paying him more than $5 million this season. Davis is earning around $10 million this season before becoming a free agent. Any team that has them at the end of the season will have their contracts come off the books. The Warriors can't profit from the salary cap relief because they already are over the cap for next year.
The Warriors could trade Robinson and/or Davis for more talent, acquiring one or more players worth up to 115 percent of their salaries.
They could trade for one player making nearly $15 million this season, such as New Jersey point guard Jason Kidd or Seattle guard Ray Allen or Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Then, at the end of the season, the Warriors would be able to extend said player if necessary because the collective bargaining agreement allows a team to go over the cap to retain its own free agents.
However, this would put the Warriors in danger of the luxury tax if it goes into effect. For example, the New York Knicks' player salaries add up to $101 million. If there is a luxury tax and it's set at $60 million, the Knicks would be penalized $41 million.
Another route the Warriors could take is to trade Robinson and/or Davis for trade exceptions, which are NBA gift certificates of sorts given to teams over the salary cap that give up more than they get in a trade.
The New Jersey Nets reportedly are interested in Robinson. Robinson's or Davis' contract would fit under the approximately $10 million trade exception the Nets got in the Kerry Kittles trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Though they wouldn't be able to combine trade exceptions, the Warriors would become players in the offseason by acquiring them. The exceptions are good for a year after they're acquired, meaning the Warriors would have nearly up until next year's deadline to trade their "gift certificates."
Small forward Mike Dunleavy, who will be a restricted free agent at the end of next season, also is a tradeable commodity. If Mullin decides Dunleavy isn't a good fit with the young nucleus, he could move Dunleavy -- especially if he uses Robinson and Davis to acquire some pricey small forward or shooting guard.
Mullin won't comment on trade speculation, but, coming up on his first trade deadline as the decision maker, he emphasized that he wasn't going to make a move just because the team is 12-29.
"But if I feel like it's a positive change that's going to make this team better," Mullin said, "no question. Done."
