Ranking 5 free agent forwards the Golden State Warriors should consider
2.Yuta Watanabe
If the Warriors want shooting from their frontcourt, there may be no better option to fill the void than Yuta Watanabe. The Japanese native displayed his ability to play off star-level talent with the Brooklyn Nets this season, shooting 44.4% from three-point range in 16 minutes per game.
He’s now a career 39% from deep over a five-year career — enough to suggest he’s not simply a one-season wonder from beyond the arc. At 6’8″ Watanabe can play both forward positions, and while not a strong rebounder or defender, he has enough size to compete on that end of the floor.
Coming off a career-best year on a minimum deal with the Nets, Watanabe may be looking for something more in the range of $5-10 million. There’s still a slight unproven nature to him though, and therefore he could be had for a minimum contract given that risk. At 28-years-old it may be a valuable play given Watanabe’s career arc is still on the way up, something that can’t be said for others on this list.
1. Joe Ingles
At 36 by the start of next season and also coming off an ACL injury in the last 18 months, perhaps Joe Ingles doesn’t appear like the most worthwhile forward target for the Warriors in free agency. However, make no mistake that the Australian’s range of skills would be a perfect fit in the Golden State system.
Ingles has been one of the most consistent three-point shooters since he entered the league — he’s shot over 40% in four different seasons and at least 38.6% in seven of his nine years. Not only would he fill that need for the Warriors, but his secondary playmaking and ball-handling would make him a nice foil next to Chris Paul in a hypothetical second unit. While not overly athletic, at 6’9″ Ingles is a solid team defender who can use his size and smarts to battle against almost any player one through four.
Ingles made a solid return from injury with the Bucks this season, averaging 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 40.9% shooting from three-point range. He played in all five of Milwaukee’s playoff games, shooting 50% from deep in averaging 6.8 points in 17.8 minutes per game.
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This isn’t to say that Ingles is the out-and-out best forward that could be available on a minimum contract, but he may be for the Warriors specifically given what they covet as a franchise and what this roster needs. Being able to lure him away from Milwaukee without the financial enticement may be a difficult task though.