Warriors Waive Avery Bradley and Three Others

It appears that the Golden State Warriors haven't quite made up their mind about who will fill their 15th and final roster spot. They've waived four players that were vying for the spot, including--surprisingly--former Los Angeles Laker Avery Bradley.

Warriors announce they’ve waived Mulder, Payton II, Bell and Bradley. Kerr says the Warriors will leave the 15th spot open for now.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) October 16, 2021

Others leaving the Bay Area include Gary Payton II, Jordan Bell and Mychal Mulder. 

It was tough to let Bradley go, said head coach Steve Kerr. “Avery, obviously, has put together a great career. He’s healthy. He played really well, especially once he got his legs underneath him." 

The Warriors intend to leave the final spot on the roster open for now. Could that be due to the fact that the team has the highest payroll in the NBA, at $174.2 million? That will cost them a whopping $160 million in luxury tax payments. Keeping the 15th spot open will save them a couple of bucks, anyway. 

The rotation is deep enough that they likely won't need to go that deep into the bench anyway, and it'll get a big additional boost in (most likely) January, when Klay Thompson is expected to return from his two-season absence.  

The loss of Bradley and Payton, however, leaves the team without a "defensive specialist" in the backcourt, according to Warriors beat reporter Monte Poole. Apparently, the organization feels that rookie Moses Moody might be able to pick up some of that defensive slack. 

Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports