golden state warriors trade news: steve blake Photo: Kevin Lee / Getty Images
The news broke quickly and was confirmed just as quickly, tweet by tweet. Shortly before tipoff against the Sacramento Kings, the Golden State Warriors traded Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks to the Los Angeles Lakers for veteran point guard and three-point sharpshooter Steve Blake.
Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times was the first to report the news:
Lakers closing in a deal to send Steve Blake to Golden State, according to Times sources.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) February 20, 2014
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Soon thereafter, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports confirmed the news:
The Lakers are in advanced talks on a deal to send Steve Blake to Golden State, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 20, 2014
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Two minutes later:
Golden State expected to send Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks to the Lakers for Blake, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 20, 2014
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And one minute after that:
Steve Blake has been traded to Golden State, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 20, 2014
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Sam Amick of USA Today confirmed the report:
The deal, the completion of which first reported by Yahoo, has been in the works since last week. Blake was their post Andre Miller target.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 20, 2014
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In fact, Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group had debated the deal yesterday. Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times didn’t think it would happen:
@ThompsonScribe FWIW – Lakers pretty fond of Blake – don't believe he's on the "dump for savings" list
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) February 19, 2014
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Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com got a chance to talk to Blake about the trade right before he was supposed to take the court at Staples Center against the Houston Rockets:
“Mixed emotions, really,” Blake said after changing into street clothes and exiting the arena less than an hour before tip-off of Wednesday night’s game against the Houston Rockets after being informed of the trade. “I knew it could happen but didn’t expect it to happen, all at the same time.”
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“The hardest thing is really for my family, really,” Blake said. “I got a wife, three little kids and now I’m going to have to spend four months, probably, away from them and so that’s going to be the hardest part.”
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Blake called the 31-22 Warriors a “really, really good team” but was unsure what his role would be.
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“How I fit in, I don’t know but we’ll figure it out,” Blake said. “I got a lot of respect for them there and look forward to getting to know them.”
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Blake, who signed with the Lakers in the summer of 2010, will become an unrestricted free agent this summer and said he would consider returning to the Lakers on a new deal.
Thompson explains the financials:
The Warriors are about $2 million from the luxury tax. Blake’s salary cap figure is $4 million this season.
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The Lakers, looking to cut money, wanted the Warriors’ traded player exception. That would essentially lop $4 million off their salary cap, which is $8 million considering they are over the tax and paying a penalty. But the Warriors weren’t willing to go into the tax for Blake, the veteran point guard known for his shooting and reliability. Getting the Lakers to take back $2 million in salary combined in Bazemore and Brooks makes this a good deal for Golden State.
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The Warriors are still under the tax. They still have their traded player exceptions, which they can use as they continue to look for deals. And they got a back-up point guard.
Here’s some more:
Warriors can absorb Steve Blake's deal using the perfectly sized $4 mil Biedrins TPE, thereby leaving the $9.8 mil Jefferson one untouched.
— Mark Deeks (@MarkDeeksNBA) February 20, 2014
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There are some complications with the deal:
Warriors general manager Bob Myers is expected to address the Steve Blake trade as soon as it gets league approval. It's complicated.
— Rusty Simmons (@Rusty_SFChron) February 20, 2014
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They're not aggregating his salary. RT @AlexRaffalli how could the Warriors put Brooks in a package since they acquired him on Jan 15?
— Larry Coon (@LarryCoon) February 20, 2014
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In general, Twitterers applauded the deal for the Warriors:
Big move by Golden State to get a real veteran point guard in Steve Blake who can spell Stephen Curry, make big 3-pointers and is a leader.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) February 20, 2014
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For those of you asking how I feel about this trade: Warriors just stole Blake. Two players out of rotation for one that can step in. Solid.
— Anthony Mitchell (@goldenstatenz) February 20, 2014
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@brownieNBA Blake is averaging like 40% from 3… And he's become really good at probing the defense in MDA… Not sure why some are down
— Red Foxx (@gotMAB21) February 20, 2014
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The Warriors managed to flip Toney Douglas and Bazemore into Steez and Steve Blake. Not bad.
— Daniel Devine (@kingofmyworld19) February 20, 2014
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If you're a Dubs fan still not sure on Blake, take a look at what LAL fans are saying about him. All positive. He made an impact there.
— Brownie GSW (@brownieNBA) February 20, 2014
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#Warriors stay under luxury tax, lose two players who weren't playing consistently, got more rest for Steph/Klay, and much more. Good trade.
— Maggie Pilloton (@MaggiePilloton) February 20, 2014
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Later during the Kings-Warriors game, Warriors general manager Bob Myers explained that the $4.1 million trade exception for Brandon Rush in the Andre Iguodala deal was used in this transaction:
The Warriors used their $4 million traded player exception from the Andre Iguodala deal.
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) February 20, 2014
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I also have the Golden State gaining 2 new trade exceptons $789k and $1.2 mil for Bazemore/Brooks @BBallInsiders http://t.co/3CBS4039xN
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) February 20, 2014
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BasketballInsiders has the new team salary chart for the Warriors as a result of the deal.
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