How Will Warriors Replace JaVale McGee After Leaving for Lakers?

The Warriors may be in the market for an athletic rim-running center after JaVale McGee signed with the Lakers in free agency.

After winning back-to-back championships with the Warriors, JaVale McGee will be joining LeBron James in Los Angeles after signing a one-year deal with the Lakers.

McGee played under 10 minutes per game during his Golden State career, but he played a pivotal role at certain times during the past two seasons and the rest of the Warriors loved playing with a center who could finish their lobs with thunderous dunks.

Damian Jones is currently the only true center on the Warriors’ roster. Jones has the potential to play a similar role as JaVale in the future, but he hasn’t given Golden State much confidence that he’ll be able to step into serious playing time right away.

Jordan Bell will certainly get minutes at center next season, but he plays more like Draymond Green than JaVale McGee.

Kevon Looney’s game is similar to Bell’s, and he is currently an unrestricted free agent that the Warriors may not be able to re-sign.

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Golden State doesn’t have many resources to spend in free agency, but luckily centers will come at a relatively cheap price this offseason.

The top JaVale replacement that is still on the market is Nerlens Noel.

Noel has the athleticism to throw down alley oops like McGee, and he probably has more defensive upside than JaVale had.

The Warriors haven’t been connected to Noel yet this offseason, but they might take a closer look at the young center now that McGee has officially moved on.

Brendan Wright could also be a reasonable facsimile of JaVale McGee if Golden State decides to sign him to a minimum contract.

Next: The Warriors did not ruin the NBA

The Warriors went from having way too many centers last year to only having one true center under contract for the 2018-19 season. They will have to add one or two centers to their roster before the end of the offseason.