Last offseason, the Golden State Warriors made finding a backup point guard a priority.
This offseason should be no different, but hopefully, they find a player that actually impacts Golden State. While former Boston Celtics guard Brad Wanamaker was a decent-looking addition on the outside, he didn’t do much when he actually got to the Bay Area.
The Golden State Warriors offseason wishlist should have a veteran backup point guard on it, but who is that perfect addition?
During the upcoming free agency period, the Golden State Warriors should have options to which veteran backup point guards they want. Players like San Antonio’s Patty Mills and Los Angeles’ Reggie Jackson will be available, but both may also favor their current franchises.
Golden State may not have the best options that will be willing to come to the Bay Area. However, unless they trust Jordan Poole, their former first-round pick who is going into his third season in the league, to get the team into its sets then they’ll need to lure in a player like Mills.
The Warriors also have former second-round pick Nico Mannion available if they want to give him the spot, but that also seems unlikely. Both Poole and Mannion have the potential to be impactful, but neither is quite the player you want captaining the second unit’s backcourt.
That’s why the Warriors need to target a backup point guard.
Mills is the preferred option. He’s a veteran sharpshooter who should be seeing his time in San Antonio come to an end. He averaged 10.8 points per game this past season. He played 24.8 minutes per game.
Mills isn’t the best point guard on the market, but he’s a sharpshooter. That should help boost his stock.
For Golden State, they should want him, in part, due to his championship experience as well. He’s been at the top of the league while with the Spurs, and he’s been further than the first round five times as well.
It’s crucial to have a player with that experience at least on the roster. The Dubs have always had a calm veteran in the backcourt of the second unit, whether that be Leandro Barbosa or Shaun Livingston. They can bring that composure back with Mills.
Mills is 32 years old which is actually shocking considering how many years it feels he’s been in the league. Bringing in Mills makes all the sense in the world after the experiment with Wanamaker went.
The Warriors need a strong backup point guard, and Mills brings them exactly that.