When the Golden State Warriors dealt James Wiseman for Gary Payton II at February’s trade deadline, they conceded their only genuine size on the roster and one of their few options at the center position.
Granted, Wiseman was never going to make an impact for the Warriors during the postseason, but nevertheless their lack of size was a major issue that led to their six-game second-round series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Golden State Warriors desperately need to fill a big man void to lessen the workload on Kevon Looney and Draymond Green.
Kevon Looney has been a tireless workhorse for Golden State over the past few seasons, and Draymond Green’s capacity to battle well above his size continues to amaze. Yet putting the duo under constant pressure eventually has to give, and it’s time the front office finds reinforcements before it boils over.
This is the free agency period where the Warriors simply must find a consistent backup center who can provide 15-20 minutes per game. The need for a genuine seven-footer is a little overstated, but it at least needs to be someone who Steve Kerr can trust and plug into every regular season outing.
Golden State have already addressed the need slightly via the draft, acquiring the 57th overall pick and selecting 6’9” big Trayce Jackson-Davis. Originally seen as a power-forward, there’s little doubt that Jackson-Davis’ lack of perimeter shooting will make him a center within the Warrior system.
At 23-years-old and after four years in the college system, there’s optimism that Jackson-Davis could be a contributor for the Warriors right away in his rookie season. That’s not an outlook worth gambling on though, and the front office will almost assuredly look to add to their big man stocks come free agency. Let’s have a look at who their best possible options may be on a minimum contract: