Curry lost his right-hand man! The Warriors salary was locked by Butler, and Payton Jr. s departure countdown!

The total annual salary of Curry + Butler in the new season exceeded 110 million US dollars, and the Warriors' salary easily exceeded 178.1 million to trigger a super luxury tax. The former champion lineup is afraid of being disintegrated.

01 The defensive system collapsed: Payton Jr.'s departure is a foregone conclusion

Gary Payton II basically decided to bid farewell to the Warriors. According to Bay Area reporter Matt Poole, the 32-year-old defensive expert "is likely not to return" and becomes a complete free agent. Last season, he played in 62 regular season games, averaged 6.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game. His defensive efficiency in the playoffs has reached a higher level, and his three-point shooting percentage has increased to 39.1%, which is the best 3D on the back line.

Peton Jr.'s value far exceeds the basic data:

Defensive end destructive power: With his fierce defense, he creates opponent's mistakes, providing key momentum for the Warriors' conversion and offense;

System adaptability: His ball-free cut and switch-free bounce perfectly fit the Warriors' pass and cut system, and has a significant role in the 2022 championship journey.

The main reason for leaving the team is directly targeting salary pressure - the Warriors' total salary is expected to break through the second rich line next season, and they cannot provide contracts that exceed the basic salary. Fans responded to this two extremes: some people think he is "only worth the basic salary", while others sighed that "it may be difficult to regain value without the Warriors system."

02 Max salary bomb detonated: Butler's contract locks in operation space

The core of the Warriors' salary crisis comes from Jimmy Butler's maximum salary:

The annual salary of 54.1 million US dollars (the fifth highest salary in the league) in the 2025-26 season, and together with Curry (59.61 million) account for 63% of the team's salary;

The total contract amount in the next two years will be US$111 million, and will climb to 56.8 million in the 2026-27 season.

Butler's huge maximum salary came into effect, causing the Warriors' total salary to explode, triggering a super luxury tax. What's even more serious is that Butler, Curry and Green (24.11 million), have a total annual salary of 138 million yuan, completely squeezing other role players' contract renewal space.

03 Domino renewal collapses: Kumingga may become a victim

In order to alleviate salary pressure, the Warriors management has launched a series of operations:

provides Kumingga with a quotation of 7.9 million qualifications to make him a restricted free agent, but his willingness to match a high-priced contract is doubtful;

With a season-average of 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists, his potential has been recognized, but overlaps with Butler's position (both playing in the front line), and his tactical value has been weakened;

If matched with the maximum salary quotes of other teams (such as 120 million or even higher in four years), the Warriors' luxury tax will exceed 200 million mark, and the boss Lakob faces the cruel choice of "winning the championship window" and "financial sustainability".

04 Chain reaction: lineup restructuring is imminent

Warriors face triple dilemma during offseason:

Challenge

Key contradictions

Potential consequences

Defensive gap

Peyton Jr. Leaving the team + Green Aging

Outside defense intensity plummeted

Salary structure

Butler contract locks in reinforcement space

}The veteran can only sign a basic salary and fill in the lineup

Future reserves

Kumingga may leave the team + no potential newcomers are wastes Podjemsky

Post-Curry era without core succession

The more far-reaching impact lies in the sanctions of the new version of the labor and capital agreement: Super luxury tax teams are prohibited from using middle-class special cases, cash transactions and other reinforcement methods. If the Warriors maintain their existing lineup, their operational flexibility will be zero.

Conclusion: The price of Golden State betting

When the Warriors management bet on Butler on the 2025 trading deadline, it had foreseeed the end of the salary outstripping. Curry + Butler + Green's "Three Big Sunset Reds" have a total annual salary of 138 million yuan, paying a cruel premium for the final goal of winning the championship.

Peton's departure is only the beginning. Kumingga's deadlock in contract renewal and the deep disintegration of substitutes all reveal the cruel rules of the NBA capital game: the super luxury tax is dismembering the giants, and the dream of a champion must eventually bow to the salary cage.