Gui Santos has improved in each of his three NBA seasons and is now a major part of the Golden State Warriors‘ rotation. Santos, who was slated to become a restricted free agent this summer, was rewarded for his development with a three-year contract yesterday.
“Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos has signed a three-year, $15 million contract extension with the franchise, sources tell ESPN,” Shams Charania tweeted. “The deal includes a player option in 2028-29.”
Santos, selected with the No. 55 pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Warriors, didn’t sign his first NBA deal until the fall of 2023. Santos spent the entire first season with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G-League, where he was named an All-Star. He started the 2023-24 campaign with Santa Cruz, but essentially split his time between the two teams, though he didn’t get much run with Golden State.
What Does Gui Santos Extension Affect The Warriors This Summer?
Last year, Santos spent most of the season with Golden State. The 6-7 forward saw action in 56 games, averaging 14 minutes a contest, and showed mild improvement over his first season with the Warriors. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old has spent the entire year with Golden State.
Aided by Golden State’s multitude of injuries, Santos has been able to carve out a major role in Steve Kerr’s rotation. Santos has appeared in 49 of the Warriors’ 60 contests, averaging 6.8 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 53.0% from the field and 38.4% from the 3-point line. He has scored in double-figures on 14 occassions and produced two double-doubles.
“Gui has become one of our shot creators,” coach Kerr said after practice Friday, before the agreement was finalized. “He does it in some unorthodox ways. But he’s got a great sense of the game. When to cut. His cutting frequently opens up somebody else.”
Santos has stepped up his production since being inserted into the starting lineup and has been fabulous in February. Santos scored 14 points, on 6 of 12 shooting, and grabbed four rebounds in 27 minutes last night in the Warriors’ 129-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. It was his ninth double-figure scoring game of the month. He finished the month averaging 15.2 points along with 5.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 57.9% from the field and 43.6% from the 3-point line.
“Vamos Santos!!!,” Warriors teammate Draymond Green wrote via Instagram.
© Petre Thomas, Imagn Images
What Does Gui Santos Extension Mean For The Warriors?
Golden State is at least a play-in team in the Western Conference. The Warriors sit in eighth place in the conference with a 31-29 record. The Warriors are eight games ahead of 11th-place Memphis. However, the Dubs have a little work to do to move into the top six, as they are 4.5.
Santos will earn around $4.6 million in 2026-27, with slight increases over the subsequent two seasons. His player option for the 2028-29 season is about $5.3 million.
With the extension, the Warriors have 10 players under contract for the 2026-27 season, with a salary cap hit of $181.8 million. That leaves the Warriors over the cap, but about $20.1 million under the tax line. They are also $28.3 million below the first apron.
Warriors Free Agents
The Warriors do have some potential flexibility or maneuverability. Draymond Green ($27.6 million), Al Horford ($5.9 million), and De’Anthony Melton ($3.4 million) have player options. Pat Spencer has a conditional player option. Horford may retire, and Melton seeks a bigger payday on the open market. Melton is having one of the best seasons of his career, though the 27-year-old has only appeared in 31 contests.
Unrestricted free agent Kristaps Porzingis, who has only played one game since the Warriors acquired him at the trade deadline, could return next year at a cost-efficient price. Quenten Post is slated to be a restricted free agent, and while his efficiency has dropped a little, he has been productive. Post’s qualifying offer is for $2.7 million, though the 25-year-old could get a slight increase in a multi-year deal.
Seth Curry is slated to be an unrestricted free agent. Curry has been injured for nearly the entire year, appearing in just two games. So, he is unlikely to return, though it is possible; he signs another minimum deal if the Warriors have an open roster spot.
Golden State has just one first-round draft pick in 2026. The Warriors have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo, though it is hard to imagine the Warriors being able to trade for him. Unless they offer all their draft capital (that they can trade) and either Jimmy Butler or Green. Speaking of Butler, he is likely to miss the start of the 2026-27 season after tearing the ACL in his knee.
The biggest thing that the Warriors need is to add depth, athleticsm and get younger. Keeping Santos is a good start, but they will need to do more.