Other teams may be targeting Golden State Warriors’ Dragan Bender

The Golden State Warriors brought in Dragan Bender for two 10-day contracts, and now other teams may be targeting the free agent.

There’s no denying this season was experimental for the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs brought in Marquese Chriss to start at center, played Eric Paschall big-time minutes, and then added frontcourt depth late season with Dragan Bender.

All three were unproven yet figured it out. For both Chriss and Paschall, they’ll be back next season, or at least that’ the assumption. Bender may be different after two 10-day contracts with the team.

Bender played nine games with the Warriors, starting three of them. The former 2016 top-five pick, Bender started the season with the Milwaukee Bucks before finding himself with Golden State.

He scored 9.0 points, collected 5.9 rebounds, and dished out 2.1 assists per game. While those numbers aren’t awing, they were enough to get him a second contract, and apparently the Warriors want to retain the 7-footer.

The problem is that so do several other teams according to NBA reporter Keith Smith.

Bender started his career with the Phoenix Suns. He was there for three seasons before signing with the Bucks. Those three seasons didn’t quite do him justice although he did play in all 82 games his second season.

Initially, the problem with Bender is he was just too inefficient to get big minutes.

Standing over seven feet tall, Bender shot under 40% from the field in both of his first two seasons. Although it drastically improved his third season, Bender still found himself without a team during the bulk of this season.

Given the Warriors’ lack of frontcourt depth, they need Bender on the roster. He has the potential to be a star in the NBA. Although just 22, in the right environment, Bender could thrive in Golden State.

Now, he just needs to stay in Golden State.