The ideal offseason for the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors need to bring in somebody new to cover up the notable weaknesses that they showed during the Finals
The Warriors notably had nobody that could block shots or even contest shots from Nikola Jokic or Robert Williams.
They can fix this in free agency.
The Warriors should definitely look for quality centers in free agency to back up Looney and James Wiseman. There are plenty of different players to look at, but defensive players would likely be for the best.
The first name that comes to mind is Mo Bamba, a 24-year-old restricted free agent from the Orlando Magic.
Bamba is a player that has been consistently stuck behind either an All-Star or just too much traffic at his position on the team. Mix that with an injury history, and he has not produced much statistically.
He is a young, athletic player, standing seven-foot-tall, and has one of the longest wingspans in NBA history. Bamba is also a decent shooter and hits his free throws at the league average, both of which are notable.
Bamba would realistically split the center minutes evenly with James Wiseman and Kevon Looney, allowing Green to play more time at his natural position of power forward more often.
The general consensus is that Bamba will earn around $6.2 million per year this upcoming free agency, and with the Magic likely taking Chet Holmgren first overall, it’s unlikely that they opt to match his contract.
If Bamba decides to go elsewhere or the Magic do decide to match any offer he is given, there are other choices available as well.
Second in this list would be Dwight Howard, a much, much older choice at 36 years old, turning 37 during next season. He would still be a welcome addition.
While he’s older and doesn’t move his feet like he used to, he is still a seven-footer who’s main focus is on defense.
Howard is also still capable of rebounding at a decent level and is a much-improved playmaker as well.
The future Hall of Famer would be worth around 10-15 minutes of solid defense on a contender and would add championship experience and could teach Wiseman how to play his role at a higher level.
Due to his age and lack of offensive skillset he is likely to take a veteran’s minimum contract, allowing Golden State to sign him with ease if he is interested.
A third, but much less likely choice, is former Warrior JaVale McGee, another older choice at 34 but once again brings a much-needed defensive presence in the paint.
McGee is capable of playing more minutes than Howard and brings more championship experience as he has won three championships and also a gold medal this past summer.
McGee is also a guy who can mentor Wiseman on how to play his role in the Warriors system as he played a similar role on the same team for two years.
There are other options as well but these three are the best options for them. If the Warriors sign any of these centers, they will see success from them.