BREAKING: Warriors Make Contract Decisions on 2 Fan Favorites Ahead of NBA Free Agency
Coming into Sunday, the Warriors were facing a deadline on a decision concerning two of their popular and high-energy reserves, 2024 draftee big man Quentin Post and Brazilian swing man Gui Santos. Neither is a threat to earn an All-NBA spot, but both have carved out a place in the league and in the hearts of Golden State fans thanks to their hustle.
Post, a second-rounder, was a surprise contributor last year, playing better as the season went on. He averaged 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.3 minutes. Santos, meanwhile, is a high-upside, high-energy project player the team took from Brazil in 2022. In his second NBA season, he averaged 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.6 minutes.
Both Post and Santos entered the offseason with team options on the books. Neither was expensive, but in this new apron-age in the NBA, every million bucks counts.
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) before game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Chase Center.
Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
According to Anthony Slater od The Athletic, the Warriors did as expected and picked up the options on both players.
https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1939409985395626322
He wrote: "The Warriors will exercise their team options on Gui Santos and Quinten Post for next season, per source. Santos is on the books for $2.2 million (non-guaranteed) and Post at $1.9 million. Pair of late second round picks who have made a rotation impact."
The Warriors, of course, have one big fish to fry this offseason, and that's restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, who has yet to agree to a deal and whose situation could, potentially, drag through the summer.
Kuminga, too, is a trade candidate, and GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. said that, whether it is Kuminga or not, there is a strong chance that the Warriors end up getting involved in the trade market this summer once free agency comes into focus.
"We've got some free agents that are priorities. We've got to handle that. But some of that stuff may lead into trades and other things," he said.
"Obviously we got wound up into a big deal last summer, multi-team trade. Anytime you get into the free agent stuff and you start looking at exceptions and cap space, it lends itself to we'll be opportunistic. ... We'll definitely be in the mix. I think we've shown a history of doing that."