The Golden State Warriors should add another center at deadline
By Tony Pesta
The Golden State Warriors have a very solid team but they should be looking to add another center before the playoffs begin.
With a starting lineup of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and DeMarcus Cousins, there isn’t much else the Warriors need to win a championship. They have five players that are capable of being All-Stars. However, fleshing out their second unit and adding more depth might be a smart decision.
Every NBA team needs a solid second unit. The bench players may not get much of the shine but their importance to the team can not go undervalued. Take a look at any championship team from the past and I guarantee you will find a slew of talented role players that understand what the team needs from them.
The Warriors have a decent bench at the moment. Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala are experienced veterans but are nearing the end of their playing days and are only productive in spurts. Meanwhile, Jonas Jerebko, Jordan Bell and Quinn Cook have been rather inconsistent, making it difficult to give either of them notable minutes.
At this point, it seems clear that the Dubs should be looking to add some more talent to their bench before playoffs start. Their rotations are thin and they are extremely top heavy. If an injury occurs to any of the Warriors key players, the team wouldn’t have a reliable replacement.
Right now, the position with the most uncertainty is the center position. Cousins is fresh off an Achilles injury and while he is currently playing well, there is no telling how long his health will continue to last.
The center situation gets worse for the Warriors when you realize that Damian Jones will likely miss the rest of the season. This means the Dubs only have two other centers on the roster, Jordan Bell and Kevon Looney. I don’t think I would trust either of these players to play big minutes in the playoffs as a replacement for Cousins.
Sure, the Warriors are talented enough to win a championship with pretty much anyone in the center position. But this doesn’t mean they should take a risk at having Looney or Bell be their only options as replacements.
Next. 6 Players to pursue in buyout market. dark
Finding a backup shouldn’t be difficult. Plenty of players will be on the trading block and even more, will hit the buyout market. The Dubs need to keep an eye out for any potential centers they can sign.