Warriors Offseason Grades: Signing Jonas Jerebko
By Andrew Ites
The Warriors brought in free agent Jonas Jerebko to be a stretch four next season. Was that the right move?
The Warriors didn’t have many available resources this offseason to retool their team after winning their third championship in four years.
Golden State used their taxpayer mid-level exception to sign another All-Star in DeMarcus Cousins, spent their first round pick on Jacob Evans, and they also signed Jonas Jerebko to a veteran minimum contract.
Jerebko was waived by the Jazz before the second year of his contract would’ve become guaranteed on July 8th.
The 31-year-old Swedish forward cleared waivers, which allowed the Warriors to pick him up on a one-year contract at the veteran minimum ($2.18 million).
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Jerebko provides an element that Golden State’s bench hasn’t had in a while: a stretch big.
The 6-foot, 10-inch power forward shot 41.4% from three on 2.1 attempts per game in Utah last season, and that outside shooting will be incredibly valuable on a Warriors bench that struggled to space the floor last year.
Jerebko scored 5.8 points and grabbed 3.3 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game with the Jazz last season, and he was an above-average defender for his position ranking 30th out of 84 power forwards in defensive real plus-minus.
Jerebko might be able to play some center for Golden State next year while the Warriors wait for DeMarcus Cousins to get healthy and return to the floor.
Golden State’s success during the Steve Kerr era has allowed them to pick up quality veterans on minimum contracts, and they’ve done it yet again with Jonas Jerebko.
B. . Power Forward. Golden State Warriors. JONAS JEREBKO
I would’ve preferred to see them fill that roster spot with a veteran wing, but those type of players are hard to find on minimum contracts.
3 reasons Jonas Jerebko is a great fit for Warriors. dark. Next
Jerebko should fit in well with the Warriors even though he doesn’t address a major need on the roster.
Check out our grades of the Warriors’ other offseason moves: