Ranking 5 free agent forwards the Golden State Warriors should consider
4. Jae Crowder
Another player who missed the majority of the 2022-23 (albeit not for injury reasons), Jae Crowder could be gettable on a minimum after an underwhelming end to the season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
After eventually being traded to the Bucks, Crowder was serviceable in his 18 regular season games, averaging 6.9 points in 18.9 minutes on a very healthy 43.6% from three-point range. That failed to maintain come the postseason, with the 11-year veteran benched after a disappointing opening three games amid the Bucks’ surprising first-round loss to the Miami Heat.
Prime Crowder is just what the Warriors need — shooting from a player that can play both forward positions while being a strong, physical defensive presence. However, the defense has waned somewhat and there’s always been issues around his volume of three-point attempts given he shoots less than 35% on his career.
Marc Stein has reported that Milwaukee are confident of retaining Crowder in free agency, and regardless, the chances of him accepting a minimum deal with the Warriors is perhaps a little far fetched.
3. Torrey Craig
From one former Sun to a current one. Unlike Green and Crowder who have shown deteriorating production in recent times, Torrey Craig is coming off arguably the best season of his career.
Playing alongside new Warrior Chris Paul, superstar shooting-guard Devin Booker, and then two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant, Craig took advantage of the spacing by averaging a career-high 7.4 points per game on a career-best 39.5% from three-point range.
It’s the defensive end where Craig has made his name over a six-year career, with a strong 6’7″ frame and good instincts allowing the 32-year-old to matchup to some of the best forwards in the league.
Some fans have Craig as their top forward target for the Warriors in free agency, but his skills as a high-level defender and still somewhat unproven perimeter shooter does overlap with that of Jonathan Kuminga. He’d still be a good get, particularly on a minimum, though there’s others that probably fill the frontcourt shooting need a little more.