Warriors Will Look to "Add A Few Guys" in Free Agency

The speculation and anticipation around the July 29 NBA Draft can now be put to rest – Golden State kept its No. 7 and No. 14 picks, selecting forward Jonathan Kuminga of the G League Ignite and guard Moses Moody from Arkansas, respectively.

Now, the Warriors have a team to build.

A few mainstays of the 2020-21 rotation have their statuses in flux. Kelly Oubre, whose Golden State career has been rocky at its worst and awkwardly successful at its best, is going to be an unrestricted free agent in the coming offseason.

Oubre was a headline acquisition for the Warriors at the shooting guard position after Klay Thompson tore his achilles before the most recent campaign, but has also made headlines for his comments to the media expressing dissatisfaction with a potential bench role when Thompson returns. Additionally, given how expensive he could potentially be for a rotation piece – Oubre got $30 million over his last two seasons – a breakup seems both likely and mutually beneficial.

The other name in question is that of Kent Bazemore. The wing returned to Golden State last year and became a regular starting guard alongside Stephen Curry when Oubre was sidelined with injury down the home stretch of the season. Numbers say he provided Steve Kerr rotational value, as Bazemore yielded the highest plus-minus of any player not named Curry or Draymond Green.

At 32 years old, he provides defensive versatility, the ability to push the ball on the fastbreak and a close friendship with Curry. However, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, the unrestricted free agent wants the stability of a multi-year deal after playing for four teams in the last three seasons, which may make it difficult for the Warriors’ front office to commit to the nine-year vet.

Trading for a reportedly disgruntled Bradley Beal does not seem like an option either, as he stayed with the Washington Wizards through the draft and is more likely to hunker down in the nation’s capital with Russell Westbrook’s trade to the Lakers for Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma.

So what is available in the free agent pool?

It’s tough to say what is realistic for a team like Golden State, as the option for higher-quality players to take the mid-level exception or the veteran’s minimum remains open.

The latest news first reported by NBA writer Tim Reynolds is that Andre Iguodala is expected to meet with Golden State during free agency. The Warriors fan base would surely be ecstatic if Iguodala reunited with his former team, however a big question there would be if he would be willing to take the veteran’s minimum.

It might be too aspirational to go after a guard of Reggie Jackson’s caliber, who is likely to be more expensive after a stellar playoff performance for the Los Angeles Clippers en route to the franchise’s first-ever Western Conference Finals berth. More realistic is somebody whose skills continually seem to be underrated in guard Austin Rivers, who could be a valuable reserve guard. A third former Clipper, Lou Williams, is also an unrestricted free agent, and he could be hunting for a championship and provide bench scoring for the Warriors, and shooting and defense could also come over in the form of Danny Green.

In the frontcourt, there are more potential options. PJ Tucker, who pestered the Warriors with the Houston Rockets, is fresh off his first championship with the Milwaukee Bucks and can provide great small-ball versatility if Golden State is willing to pursue him.

A reunion with Marquese Chriss could also be in the cards, and it would make sense – Chriss was primed for a good second season with the Warriors before an injury and a trade sent him to San Antonio. Other options include Jeff Green, Nerlens Noel, Paul Millsap, Kelly Olynyk and Nicholas Batum.

Bob Myers said after Thursday’s draft that the team “needs to add a few guys”.

When free agency opens Monday, Myers will have his chance, and he has a few guys he could use.