The Golden State Warriors announced today that the team has exercised the fourth-year contract options on forward Harrison Barnes and center Festus Ezeli, which are for the 2015-16 NBA season. The team did not exercise the third-year contract option on guard Nemanja Nedovic.
Barnes, 22, has appeared in 160 games (106 starts) over three seasons with the Warriors, averaging 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.8 minutes per contest. The 6’8” forward has appeared in all 19 of the team’s postseason games in that span, earning 12 starting assignments and posting averages of 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 32.5 minutes. Barnes, who was selected by the Warriors with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft, was a First Team All-Rookie selection in 2012-13.
Ezeli, 25, has appeared in 79 games (41 starts) over three seasons in Golden State, averaging 2.5 points and 4.0 rebounds to go with 0.94 blocks. In 12 postseason appearances (all in 2012-13), the 6’11” center averaged 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.2 minutes. Ezeli, the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft, missed the entire 2013-14 season while recovering from right knee surgery.
Nedovic, 23, appeared in 24 games with the Warriors last season as a rookie, averaging 1.1 points in 5.9 minutes per contest. Originally selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, he was acquired by the Warriors in a draft-night deal.
Under the terms of the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the first two years of a first round draft pick’s contract are guaranteed, while the third and fourth year of the contract are the team’s option.