Six realistic Warriors free-agent targets this offseason
Monte Poole picks six free agents who could realistically fit the Warriors.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article originally ran on Sept. 9
Talks of a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Warriors dominated the conversation in the summer months, but came plummeting into earthly reality in early September when, despite the Bucks' early exit from the NBA playoffs, Giannis said he has no plans of demanding a trade.
The ever-ambitious Warriors were prepared for this, but now realize it would be wise to keep their stargazing eyes fixed on more attainable objects.
Let’s stroll through the garden of reachable free agents and consider six players the Warriors realistically could consider.
At 7 feet, Ibaka is a big with a legitimate defensive presence. He is a consistent rebounder, too, but his most appealing assets are the ability to run the floor with purpose and stretch defenses with his shot. Coach Steve Kerr loves the idea of a stretch-4 or stretch-5. Ibaka is capable of being either one. He has shot above 38 percent from deep in five of the past six seasons.
There is mutual interest between Ibaka and the Raptors, so a re-signing is possible but hardly a certainty. He made $23.3 mil this season but likely won’t get that anywhere, including Toronto.
If the Warriors covet a veteran big to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and we keep hearing they do, it’s hard to imagine them doing better than Ibaka, who turns 31 next week.
The Warriors have the taxpayer mid-level exception, the disabled player exception after Klay Thompson's injury, and veteran's minimum contracts at their disposal in free agency. Here are five other names the Warriors can consider for either of those.
Shaun Livingston is not walking through the door, nor is any other rangy point guard available to give Steph Curry a breather. There are a few savvy vets, though.
Augustin falls into that category and is affordable. He can be streaky, taking over a game one night and being a liability the next. But he’s never been asked to lead the second unit of a winner. At 33, coming off a four-year deal worth $29 mil, he might be ready to do that.
Most expect him to re-sign with the Heat, believing that a deep playoff run increases that likelihood. But the Warriors need experienced wings -- though at 6-6, 230 pounds, Crowder really is a combo forward -- and would benefit from his toughness and intensity at both ends. Even if his 3-ball is streaky.
He’s 30 and is making $7.8 mil this season.
He’s not going to exceed the $17.6 mil he made this season in New Orleans. At 6-9, 260, he’s a younger version of David West, minus the passing skills but also, at 29, much younger.
If Favors’ desire to win allows him to a change-of-pace big man at a reasonable rate, the Warriors should take a good look.
The 6-6 wing is one of the best deep shooters in the league, and Nets GM Sean Marks says re-signing him is a high priority. But Kevin Durant’s healthy arrival means Joe’s days as a starter are over. The Nets own his Bird rights, but if Harris, 29, wants a prime-time role, it’s hard to imagine he’ll get it in Brooklyn.
He made $7.7 mil last season. Might he be persuaded by the allure of 25 minutes a night on a ball-sharing contender?
He’ll turn 34 next month and has some mileage on him, exacerbated by the ruptured Achilles’ tendon sustained in 2015.
He’s still a very good wing defender and shoots 38 percent from deep. He is at the stage when he might be hunting a ring. He’s a good deal at $4 mil and would be a bargain if available for the $2.7 mil veteran’s minimum.
