When Dennis Schroder signed with the Boston Celtics in free agency last week, it all but guaranteed that the Warriors would not use the $5.9 million taxpayer mid-level exception (TPMLE) to further beef up the roster heading into the 2021-22 season. General manager Bob Myers essentially confirmed as much, stating "after a few guys went off the board, we held it in check."
Myers didn't specify who those "few guys" were, though given Golden State's reported interest, it's likely that both Nic Batum (who re-signed with the LA Clippers) and Patty Mills (who signed the full TPMLE with the Brooklyn Nets) were among them. Schroder, who also signed for the full TPMLE, might have been, too.
The Warriors "did inquire about Dennis Schroder," the Mercury News' Wes Goldberg reported Friday, citing a league source. It is unknown if the Warriors offered Schroder the TPMLE, but they had the capability of offering him the same deal that he ultimately agreed to with Boston.
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SIGN UP HERE While Myers doesn't envision using the TPMLE in the remainder of free agency, he didn't rule out using it altogether. "We still may use it," he said Friday, "depends on how things shake out as the season goes on."
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Golden State currently has room for one more guaranteed contract, which almost certainly will be filled by a player on the minimum. But should a player the Warriors deem worthy of the TPMLE -- and the accompanying luxury tax payments -- become available prior to the playoff push, they just might be glad they kept it in their back pocket.
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