Five NBA free agents who best address Warriors’ biggest needs

Five NBA free agents who best address Warriors’ biggest needs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the hours lurch toward Sunday afternoon, when the doors officially swing open to the NBA free-agent market, the Warriors are in a position they know better than they would like.

As other teams gaze at big-ticket items, the Warriors, a franchise perpetually kissing the luxury tax, will stroll over to the clearance racks.

Golden State’s experience over the years as minimum-contract shoppers has yielded huge hits (e.g. Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., David West, Zaza Pachulia), reserve contributors (e.g. DeMarcus Cousins, JaVale McGee, Quinn Cook) and abject misses (e.g. Brad Wanamaker, Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi).

It must be considered that the Warriors’ two strongest recruiting pitches have weakened in recent years. Their fabled culture has been compromised by Draymond Green’s recent conduct. And they no longer are universally considered a championship favorite.

Any free agent that comes aboard knows his role is to supplement a roster built around Stephen Curry, Green and, possibly, Klay Thompson. He can be the difference between the Warriors making or missing the playoffs.

The Warriors covet shooting. They know it, as does the rest of the NBA. Here are five players, headed toward unrestricted free agency and probably available on minimum contracts that would address that need:

(UFA after one-year contract at $2.7 million vet minimum)

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard is an itinerant hired gun, a 38.5-percent career shooter from distance that has worn five different jerseys. He made 77 starts last season in Milwaukee, averaging 11.3 points while shooting 41.3 percent beyond the arc. He’s only 27, but he might be enticed by a return to the Western Conference.

(UFA after one-year contract at $2 million vet minimum)

An older version of Beasley insofar as he has played for seven teams as a 38.5-percent career shooter beyond the arc. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound wing shot 40.3 percent from deep, mostly on spot-ups, last season as a reserve with the Rockets. He came to Houston after concluding a three-year, $30…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/five-nba-free-agents-best-171405025.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-06-27 17:14:05

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