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Have the Golden State Warriors lost their free agent attraction?

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers (left) and owner Joe Lacob watch their team play the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on October 06, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers (left) and owner Joe Lacob watch their team play the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on October 06, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors lucked out with another available free agent on Sunday, with former Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love choosing to remain in the Eastern Conference and join the Miami Heat.

It’s an unsurprising result given the franchise’s recent history. Now a big market teams that’s constantly linked with veteran free agents, the Warriors are too often coming up short on landing anyone of major significance.

After a couple of years as the envy of the league, the Golden State Warriors recent free agent history is becoming a little underwhelming.

The NBA universe lost their minds when the Warriors signed Durant during the 2016 off-season, having just come off a record 73-9 season. Two years later it happened again when they signed DeMarcus Cousins, albeit he never had the same impact that Durant did. But over the past few years, Golden State seem to have lost their shine to prospective free agents.

The Golden State Warriors stunned the league when they signed Kevin Durant in 2016.
The Golden State Warriors stunned the league when they signed Kevin Durant in 2016. /

It does need to be put in perspective when it comes to available spending and the Warriors’ core values. This has been a team repeatedly in the luxury tax, not allowing them to make big splashes such as that of Durant seven years ago. Outside of the two-time Finals MVP, Golden State have primarily been built on internal development and making minor moves around the edges.

Still, when dissecting the free agent options available for the taxpayer mid-level exception or less, the Warriors’ recent record hasn’t been great. The two major success stories since 2019 have been Otto Porter Jr. and Donte DiVincenzo, two players who’s market value had dipped due to injury. But even if they resulted as major players for Golden State, their signings at the time weren’t notable to the point it had everyone around the league talking.

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The Warriors’ capacity to win free agent sweepstakes is starting to become a concern, particularly as the aging core travels further towards the end. An underwhelming 29-29 season isn’t building their case to buyout candidates, and their end to the season will most certainly impact their ability to attract players this offseason.

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