Three Remaining Free Agents The Warriors Should Pursue
The NBA offseason is well underway, and there has been a lot of activity with big-time players moving teams and signing lucrative contracts worth millions of dollars. A lot of impact players have signed with different teams, but there are still many players available in free agency.
The Golden State Warriors have been active during this off-season, acquiring Chris Paul from the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole and other assets, signing Draymond Green to a four-year, $100 million contract extension at the beginning of the free agency period, signing their two promising rookie draft picks, Brandin Podziemski and Ty Jackson Davis, and signing Corey Joseph to a one-year veteran minimum deal as a guard off the bench.
The Warriors roster is almost complete with their offseason additions, but they still have to fill out two more roster spots with players who fall under the veteran minimum contract to complete their roster. General Manager Mike Dunleavy stated they are looking to only have a 14-player roster due to not being over the luxury tax and staying under the second apron. They have a few needs: a stretch big and another wing player who can defend the perimeter and stretch the floor.
They filled one of those needs (and roster spots) early this morning by signing Dario Saric, a name they’d been connected to since free agency started. The 29-year-old, 6'10” forward, who last played for Oklahoma City, played in 20 games last year due to injury, but he was effective shooting the ball with an above-50 percent field goal percentage and a 39 percent three-point percentage. Saric looks to be a perfect fit as a big man who could stretch the floor on offense and be a nice bench piece as an occasional stretch five too. He is a smart player who can pass and knows his role on a championship contender, while already having great chemistry with CP3 from his stint in Phoenix.
Saric’s signing means there’s only one more spot left. When looking at a wing player who can guard multiple positions on the perimeter, one name to keep track of is Justise Winslow. Sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders for an NBA journeyman. Once a promising young player coming out of Duke University, Winslow's stock has dwindled from his time with the Miami Heat for many reasons, with injuries leading the way, but he will get another chance in the NBA only being in his late 20’s and in the prime of his career.
This might be a last-chance effort for him to show what he can do on the floor, and the Warriors might be a perfect fit for him to rebrand himself. He is a wing defender who can play multiple positions, including shooting guard, small forward, and power forward, and Golden State values versatile players on their bench.
Another player looking to prove they can rebrand themselves who would be an intriguing prospect for the Warriors is TJ Warren. After coming off a good comeback year for the Brooklyn Nets, he didn’t do much in Phoenix. He’s only 30, but he can score at will off the bench. With Jordan Poole traded to Washington, the Warriors need a scorer off the bench, and Warren could provide the spark and scoring that he showed he was capable of in the Bubble.
Everyone loves a second chance, especially in sports. Now, before you scoff, give this name a thought: Kelly Oubre Jr. could be a possibility for the Warriors as a veteran minimum-contract player to bolster their bench scoring. He’s in the prime of his career at 27 years old and scored 20 points per game with the Charlotte Hornets last season, but he could be an uber-athletic wing player who would help the Warriors main issue of providing a spark off the bench while playing good defense against the elite guards in the West. Oubre’s biggest issue while with the Warriors was his shooting woes, but he’s proven that to be somewhat of an anomaly since his time in Golden State.
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