The Week that Was:
Another quality week for an elite basketball team. Losing to Memphis ended the win streak at an astonishing sixteen games but there is no shame falling to a quality opponent on the road, especially when playing without a key piece like Andrew Bogut.
After closing the short road trip with a loss, the Warriors returned home to Oracle and proceeded to play two more strong games. The first half against Oklahoma City was my favorite half of basketball of any game I have ever attended (which is a substantial number) with both teams providing plenty of fireworks. Kevin Durant’s injury took the air out of the building and the Dubs controlled down the stretch. The Kings game was never in doubt and Golden State did what good teams do in that situation: never let your opponent get too much hope.
While it was their first 2-1 week in quite some time, losses around the Western Conference on Monday should remind all of us just how dangerous every opponent can be. Many of the Warriors players expressed that sentiment after Monday’s win.
The Soapbox: The David Lee of it All
David Lee has been a point of contention for Warriors fans for seemingly his entire career. His effort and willingness to be the face of the franchise made him a foundational piece in the years before Stephen Curry took a spot in the star category beyond anything Lee could reasonably expect to accomplish.
The challenge with David Lee stems from what has become a growing understanding of what he is right now: an unquestionably 
good basketball player whose contributions are not essential for a successful team. His passing, rebounding and scoring all help but he does not fill a pivotal role as a rim protector, key defender, primary ballhandler or go-to scorer. That makes him useful but expendable and a nice luxury for the Warriors.
Lee’s contract may sit as the most important factor affecting his future with the team. Owed about $30.5 million owed over the next two seasons puts David in a somewhat awkward position with the team. In effect, it all boils down to whether Joe Lacob and the rest of the ownership group are willing to pay the luxury tax next season. With Klay’s lucrative extension and Draymond Green’s pay raise effectively baked in to the 2015-16 books, the team would have to shed at least one of Lee or Andre Iguodala without taking much long-term salary in return to avoid paying the luxury tax. As an expiring deal at that point it would make sense that some teams would prefer Lee should the Warriors feel pressure to stay under the tax yet again.
If not, the Warriors face less pressure to make a choice on Lee. He holds value for the team in the immediate since Andrew Bogut cannot play due to his knee issues. While Lee cannot replicate the Aussie on defense, he can help fill the offensive role and keep that end humming in the interim. In addition, Shaun Livingston’s strong play and the possible emergence of Justin Holiday makes big man depth Golden State’s biggest flaw for the rest of the season with or without Bogut. Lee does not fill that hole perfectly but finding an individual who can at a more workable salary could be incredibly difficult.
To me, the only silver bullet out there would be Kevin Garnett. The big man has an expiring contract and makes enough money to work straight up for Lee while fitting well as either big man position. The Nets would consider making a move like that because they are hamstrung on next year’s cap no matter what due to their other salary commitments and David Lee’s extra year means they get another contributor since it appears unlikely that Garnett will play next season for them (or maybe for anyone).
As those of you who follow me on Twitter know, I would also support Lance Stephenson if the locker room was OK with it. A prodigious talent who will not turn 25 until shortly before the start of next season, Stephenson makes about $6 million less than Lee this year and next while also carrying a team option for a third season. That team option provides leverage and Lance’s talent makes him a worthwhile buy low candidate.
Beyond those two, there are not any clear cut winners unless another team makes a mistake or the Warriors are willing to make a larger move. Having such a good record and Lee’s positive attitude makes the present circumstances substantially workable but what the team chooses to do with their previous brightest star will tell us quite a bit about this ownership group.
The Week to Come:
I would say that Golden State’s Christmas gift comes in the two games surrounding the holiday. A tough Christmas Day game against the Clippers at Staples is sandwiched by incredibly winnable games against the Lakers and Timberwolves. Even with Tuesday’s game being part of a back-to-back, I am expecting a clean slate the rest of 2014.