Golden State Warriors: 3 free agents that fill much-needed roles

1. Meyers Leonard

Role: Stretch big

Steve Kerr has stated that one of the Golden State Warriors’ main goals this offseason will be developing their frontcourt into more consistent 3-point shooters. Draymond Green has seen a noticeable dip in his percentage while Eric Paschall has yet to hit his stride from deep.

This is a pressing issue for the Dubs dating back to the 2019 NBA Playoffs when opposing teams began shrinking the floor by allowing Green to shoot wide-open 3-pointers. Green connected on only 9-of-41 ‘wide-open- attempts in the postseason, though he did make up for it by being dominant in other areas of the game.

This is a trend the Dubs want to avoid. Having a player like Meyers Leonard, who shot 42.9 percent from deep last season, could alleviate their problems. They won’t have to rely on him too heavily but his presence as a potential release valve would be valuable.

Leonard started all 49 games for the Miami Heat this season and averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in just over 20 minutes of playing time. He is in the final year of his contract, making $11 million dollars in the 2019-20 season. Convincing Leonard to take a bit of pay cut might be tough but he would play a larger role on a championship-caliber team, giving him a chance to raise his value for next summer.

He would be the tallest player on the Warriors’ roster at seven-feet. He could not only be a solid shooter from deep but serve as one of the team’s best rebounders and rim protectors. The Dubs must target Leonard in the offseason.