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:
3. Dario Saric
Saric may not be your typical big man but in a Warrior system that prioritizes shooting and quick-minded passing, he’s an intriguing option given his offensive skillset. Prior to his ACL injury in the 2021 NBA Finals, the Croatian was a rotational piece for a Phoenix Suns team who sat atop the Western Conference.
Saric’s return last season wasn’t spectacular — he got traded to OKC midway through — but he showed enough to suggest he can still be an impactful NBA player. He averaged 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 57 games, shooting a more than useful 39.1% from three-point range.
Golden State have already seen how a skillful European big man works in their system — Nemanja Bjelica was a capable contributor in their 2021-22 championship season, averaging 16 minutes per game.
Saric could provide a similar role for Steve Kerr — someone who can be a pick-and-pop threat while also holding the capability of putting the ball on the floor, reading plays, and executing passes off the dribble or from a standing start out on the perimeter.
Perhaps the Warriors will be after a more athletic, shot-blocking presence behind Kevon Looney, but those types almost always become futile come the postseason. There’s some offensive versatility with Saric that’s valuable during the regular season, and could prove helpful in certain situations during the playoffs.
2. Mason Plumlee
If the Warriors are after more of a traditional big with size, Mason Plumlee may be their best option if gettable on a minimum contract. The 33-year-old is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, even if his raw numbers are somewhat inflated by an increased role with the Charlotte Hornets to start the season.
As a starter in Charlotte, Plumlee averaged a very healthy 12.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in nearly 30 minutes per game. He took on a backup role after being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, yet still proved a meaningful contributor as a strong rebounder and solid pick-and-roll threat.
Plumlee averaged 8.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 18.2 minutes during the postseason, shooting 87.5% from the field and 92.9% from the free-throw line after a strange but successful decision to begin shooting left-handed.
At seven-foot tall Plumlee would provide the Warriors with a bigger body around the basket. He could be a nice foil for Chris Paul in the second-unit, especially given his ability to make reads and find cutters/open shooter off the roll. He’d be equally adept playing next to Stephen Curry and/or Klay Thompson, capable as a dribble hand-off big who can set hard screens to get the splash brothers enough air space.
Coming off a three-year, $24.7 million contract, it might be hard to envisage Plumlee taking a minimum particularly given his strong form in 2022-23. However, having never reached the ultimate success, perhaps he takes the opportunity to join a franchise desperate to regain the championship mantle.
1. Kevin Love
There’s a lot of similarities in the playstyles between Saric and Kevin Love, though the latter is a five-time All-Star and holds far greater experience. The Warriors were linked to Love after he was bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers mid-season, but he ultimately signed with the Miami Heat and enjoyed a prosperous run to another NBA Finals.
While far from his best at 34 years of age, Love has still proven a quality rotation piece to a contending team. His skills as a shooter and passer would make him a versatile player for the Warriors as someone capable of playing alongside Draymond Green or Kevon Looney, or as a small-ball five next to someone like Jonathan Kuminga.
Love averaged 18 minutes during the Heat’s surprising playoff run, providing 6.9 points on 37.5% shooting from deep. One of/if not the best rebounders in the league earlier in his career, Love is still productive on the boards having averaged 5.6 during the postseason.
If the Warriors found a way to turn JaMychal Green’s roster spot into Love then that’s a massive upgrade. Being able to manage that is easier said than done – why would he leave the Heat when there’s no financial incentive?
If Golden State could acquire him, it would be the next demonstration of opting into their win-now approach. A second-unit led by Love and Chris Paul would be one of the most experienced in the league, and could help turn the tables from an inexperienced bench that struggled this season.