3 positional needs for the Golden State Warriors heading into free agency
After an already busy offseason with a blockbuster trade and two new rookies coming from the NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors now face their most important period when free agency kicks off on Friday.
With 10 contracted players for next season, new General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has plenty of work to do to fill out a roster that certainly has its flaws right now. The Warriors made some mistakes last offseason that impacted the potential to win back-to-back titles, and the front office now has a chance to atone for that with their new-found ‘win-now’ mentality.
The Golden State Warriors possess a guard-heavy roster that must be balanced by increased frontcourt depth in free agency.
Golden State need to address their own big free agent in Draymond Green before targeting specific rival players who can add to the talent currently on the roster. Let’s have a look at the depth chart prior to free agency.
Point-Guards – Stephen Curry, Chris Paul
Shooting Guards – Klay Thompson, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski
Small-Forwards – Andrew Wiggins
Power-Forwards – Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis
Centers – Kevon Looney
Six of the Warriors’ 10 contracted players are guards, although you could argue Gary Payton II is almost positionless in the Warrior system, and players like Klay Thompson and Moses Moody have the size to play up at the three or at a stretch the four. Either way, it’s something they need to address as we look at three positions of need heading into free agency.
1. Backup center
Some of the center minutes will again be eaten up by Green assuming the Warriors agree to a long-term deal with the former Defensive Player of the Year. Regardless, Golden State can’t afford Looney and Green to take all the center minutes in 2023-24, meaning big man depth is their most important need in free agency. Rookie prospect Trayce Jackson-Davis will likely play center in the Warrior system, but they can’t presume that he’ll contribute effectively from next season despite being 23-years-old.
2. Forward depth with three-point range
Aside from center, the front office also needs to get their hands on more frontcourt depth that preferably has reliable three-point range. Green should come back as the incumbent power-forward, but both he and Jonathan Kuminga are underwhelming perimeter shooters.
Ideally they can find a shooter with size that can play either forward positions while adding some rebounding. That’ll be hard to do given their limited financial capacity, which is really what made Otto Porter Jr. an invaluable signing in free agency two years ago.
3. Third-string point-guard
One of the positives of Jordan Poole was his ability to be available throughout the entire season. Now, the Warriors have moved him for a 38-year-old point-guard that’s had his injury issues. It would simply be irresponsible to not have insurance for Stephen Curry and Chris Paul heading into next season.
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Perhaps you can get away with it if Donte DiVincenzo surprisingly opts in to his player option — maybe between he and Green there’d be enough playmaking options available. If not, Golden State certainly need a third-string point-guard to cover for Curry and Paul in case of injury/rest. If they don’t like their available options on the market, it’s feasible they could bring back Ty Jerome after he made a reasonable impact on a two-way deal in 2022-23.