2 Teams who could lure Donte DiVincenzo away from the Golden State Warriors

Donte DiVincenzo has a big decision to make on his future this offseason, with the 26-year-old having potentially played his last game with the Golden State Warriors should he wish to test free agency.

After a relatively successful first year with the Warriors, DiVincenzo has a $4.7 million player option for next season. Given his strong regular season form that saw him start 36 games, it seems likely that the 2021 NBA champion could garner greater offers come free agency.

Donte DiVincenzo could be lured away from the Golden State Warriors by a pair of young teams looking to explode up the standings next season.

Even if bigger offers do come for DiVincenzo, that doesn’t mean that the Warriors are automatically out of the running to re-sign him. Most teams with cap space are those in rebuilding mode who are likely to be lottery bound again next season. Does DiVicenzo really want to head to one of those franchises?

The attractive teams could be those who can offer him a significant pay rise, while also holding a realistic chance of exploding up the standings and into playoff contention next season. Of course, DiVincenzo would also have to be a fit from the team’s perspective as well. Given that criteria, there’s a couple of teams that could make sense.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder already made a considerable rise this season, winning a Play-In Game against the New Orleans Pelicans despite number two overall pick Chet Holmgren sitting on the sidelines all year.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander developed further into a bonafide superstar, and the pairing of he and Josh Giddey is already one of the most exciting backcourts in the league. While they’ll need to integrate Holmgren into the rotation next season, the Thunder should put themselves in position to end a three-year playoff drought. If they wish to achieve that though, they’ll need to add a couple more experienced options to what was the youngest team in the league in 2022-23. Here’s where DiVincenzo comes in.

At 26 he’s hardly a highly experienced veteran, but he’s got playoff experience and remains young enough to build with the OKC core over a number of years. From a basketball fit wise, the Thunder could do with a guard option who can provide defensive intensity while Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey do their thing offensively. On that end, DiVincenzo’s combo guard skills would work effectively as a catch-and-shoot threat next to one of, or both of that duo, and as a secondary playmaker capable of making plays off the dribble.

The Thunder could offer DiVincenzo a multi-year deal at $10-12 million per season, and although the Warriors may remain a greater championship hope in the short-term, that salary differential could be enough to lure him away from the franchise.

Orlando Magic

The Magic may have finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 34-48 record, but it was still a positive season led by a Rookie of the Year campaign from number one overall pick Paolo Banchero.

With Banchero and Franz Wagner in place, the Magic could be closer to returning to the playoffs than some expect. If they did want to accelerate their rise, then DiVincenzo could be an option to add experience and a trusted guard presence.

Orlando already have their version of DiVincenzo in former fifth overall pick Jalen Suggs, but the 21-year-old has yet to completely solidify himself in the league. Regardless, there’s no reason the two couldn’t co-exist effectively on the same roster.

Like the Thunder, Orlando could offer DiVincenzo something in the range of three-year, $40 million. While there may not be immediate success, the Magic have already shown enough to prove they’re on the right track.