Warriors exercise team option on Mo Speights
The champs are aiming for continuity.
The Golden State Warriors have exercised their 2015-16 team option on Marreese Speights, keeping the valuable frontcourt reserve in Oakland for another season.
General manager Bob Myers had said over the weekend that the team planned to retain Speights, a signal the Warriors may be willing to spend into the luxury tax. The option is for $3.8 million. While that's fair value or even a discount for the offense Speights provides off the bench, it gives the Warriors roughly $83.7 million in salary committed to 11 roster players, including first-round pick Kevon Looney.
Prior to going down with a calf injury in the Warriors' playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, Speights proved to be a key cog for his team. He returned from injury during the NBA Finals, playing spot minutes as his team went on to win the NBA Championship.
Speights finished seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting for the 2014-15 season after averaging 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor. The Warriors like Speights as a de facto center in smaller lineups, with his ability to score from the free-throw line in open 4-on-3 situations standing as a difficult wrinkle for defenses hoping to trap Steph Curry in the pick-and-roll.
He'll slot in as the team's third or fourth big once again next season, depending on how the rest of their offseason moves play out.