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3 Veteran Centers the Golden State Warriors could look at on a 10-day contract

By Peter O'Keefe

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 19: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz tangle in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 19, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 19: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz tangle in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 19, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors
Derrick Favors battles with Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry during his days with the Utah Jazz. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Veteran centers available for the Golden State Warriors a 10-day contract: Derrick Favors

At just 31 years of age, Derrick Favors remains surprisingly on the free agent market having become available on October 14. A 12-year NBA veteran, Favors made his name as a steady contributor on a number of good Utah Jazz teams’ over the last decade.

His minutes have reduced over the last three seasons, but it would be a surprise if we never see Favors at the NBA level again. He was solid veteran presence for a young Oklahoma City Thunder team last season, averaging 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.7 minutes across 39 games in 2021-22.

He averaged 5.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in similar gametime during his second stint with the Jazz in 2020-21 — the last period in which we saw him with a genuine playoff team. Before that he was the starting center for the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019-20 season, averaging 9 points and 9.8 rebounds in 24.4 minutes per game.

Favors was involved in a eight-player trade between the Thunder and Houston Rockets in September, before being waived by the Rockets shortly after. Coincidentally, that trade paved the way for the Warriors to be able to acquire Ty Jerome on a two-way contract as he too was waived by Houston.

If the Warriors want another version of Kevon Looney, then Favors might be the best available option. His capacity to bring rebounding and screen-setting could fit in a second-unit with Jordan Poole, wth his extensive playoff experience providing a trust factor that Steve Kerr won’t have with James Wiseman.

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