With the first month of NBA free agency officially in the books, the options remaining on the market have thinned to a point of incredibly slow movement. The Golden State Warriors only move since signing Dario Saric over three weeks ago has been retaining young guard Lester Quinones on a two-way contract.
With two main roster spots still available, there’s been little movement in regard to the Warriors and another free agent signing. Like many around the league, General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is waiting patiently to see who could shake out as options waived or bought out by their current team. Still, there’s some worthy options left on the board if that doesn’t come to fruition.
Who should the Golden State Warriors target if they’re to sign a genuine backup for Kevon Looney with their 14th roster spot?
Golden State’s most glaring hole right now is clearly at the center position, with the front office having yet to find a genuine backup for starting center Kevon Looney. Not that it appears a huge priority for Dunleavy after these comments a couple of weeks ago –
"“We gotta be careful with the way we play, with the way the league works, just bringing in somebody who is tall. You got to be skilled, you got to have feel, you got to know how to play…We’ll always prioritize that.”"
Signing Saric has at least added an extra option at that position, with the 6’10” Croatian almost certain to play the majority of his minutes as a small-ball stretch five in Steve Kerr’s system. With he, Looney and Draymond Green, the Warriors need insurance incase of injury more than they need a genuine rotation player.
The franchise has gotten incredibly fortunate with Looney’s durability in recent times. The 27-year-old has played in every Warrior game over the past two seasons, proving himself an ironman after injury issues earlier in his career.
Not only is it unfair to expect Looney to continue his incredible streak, but he’s at a point in his career where, combined with Golden State’s championship ambitions, he shouldn’t be asked to play every game even if healthy. The Warriors acquired Trayce Jackson-Davis with the 57th overall pick in this year’s draft, though relying on a rookie for meaningful minutes is fraught with danger despite the 23-year-old’s advanced age and collegiate experience.
Let’s have a look at the top three options available for the franchise should they target another genuine center to support Looney –
3. Bismack Biyombo
There are a plethora of veteran big men looking to extend their careers elsewhere next season, including the likes of Blake Griffin, Taj Gibson, Serge Ibaka, Derrick Favors, Myers Leonard, Dewayne Dedmon and Tristan Thompson.
In terms of overall impact, they’re all going to be around the same mark — players who could play here and there in the regular season but aren’t going to be part of a playoff rotation unless a true emergency really hits.
Bismack Biyombo falls into this category, although his recent playing experience with new Warrior Chris Paul does give him a slight advantage. Plus, at just 30-years-old and having averaged over 14 minutes with the Phoenix Suns last season, there’s optimism that Biyombo can still be a serviceable NBA player.
Paul and Biyombo developed a nice pick-and-roll chemistry in Phoenix, with the veteran point-guard undoubtedly playing a key role in the revitalization of Biyombo’s career after an unmemorable period in Charlotte.
He might only be 6’8″ but the Congolese big man certainly plays above that size on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he can be a lob threat and finish well around the rim, having shot 70% from within five feet last season. Defensively, he can be a presence in the paint, with his 46.6% defensive field-goal percentage last season a pretty good mark given the majority of his shot contests come at the rim. He also averaged 10.7 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per 36 minutes with the Suns in 2022-23.
Playing in the right unit, one that inevitably includes Paul, Biyombo can still be a useful NBA player. He recorded a positive net rating with the Suns last season, suggesting that if called upon, his minutes won’t be a disaster like what the Warriors had with James Wiseman early last season.
2. Neemias Queta
With all the veteran big men previously listed, including Biyombo, there’s a sense of assurity with what you’re going to get. With that assurance comes a low ceiling at this point of their careers, something that can’t be said for energetic young big man Neemias Queta.
Queta is largely unproven at the NBA level — he’s appeared in just 20 total games while on a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings over the past two seasons. Yet there’s certainly potential there, one that may be worth taking a risk on rather than opting for a ‘safe’ veteran.
The seven-footer has proved himself far too good for the G League level over his first two seasons, having originally been taken with pick 39 by the Kings in the second-round of the 2021 NBA Draft. With averages of 16.8 points (shooting 68.5%), 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.9 blocks, Queta was named to both the ALL-NBA G League first team and All-Defensive team in 2023.
The Portuguese native has the athleticism to be a lob threat and efficient finisher around the rim, and a devastating shot-blocking presence on the other end. Most recently he played for the Kings during Summer League, averaging 8.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 blocks across four games.
Does Queta have the requisite skill and feel to fit into the Warrior system as Dunleavy describes? Maybe not but one has to question who does when we’re talking about minimum-level players. Perhaps trying to develop both he and Trayce Jackson-Davis would be overkill, but Queta is certainly the more proven prospect at this point. There’s certainly potential they could mould him into an effective NBA player given the franchise’s likelihood in delving more into pick-and-roll action with Paul on the squad.
1. Christian Wood
One month into free agency and Christian Wood stands head-and-shoulders above the pack in terms of the most talented player left on the market. That’s not to say he doesn’t come with major flaws — particularly defensively and as a cultural fit — but he’s a bucket-getter who’s been a productive player for four-straight seasons and should theoretically be in the prime of his career at 27 years of age.
Right now Wood’s in a tough position? Is he waiting out for more money having just come off a three-year, $41 million contract, or are his issues that blatantly glaring that his future in the league is in some doubt.
It might ultimately be a little bit of both. It’s nigh on impossible to see him not land somewhere before next season starts, but perhaps teams are waiting to see what their options are before offering Wood anything more than a minimum deal. Maybe he’ll have to accept a minimum anyway, which would have to be the case should he join the Warriors.
Wood’s coming off a season where he averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds, shooting 51.5% from the floor and 37.6% from three-point range. His -1.3 net rating begins to explain his issues, but at the same time it’s not a total disaster that can’t be improved upon in the Bay.
The real question comes on whether Wood can buy-in to a reduced role, something he’s had very public struggles with in the past. In the likes of Donte DiVincenzo and Otto Porter Jr., Golden State have a good recent history of being a short stop for a player to rehabilitate their value. Could Wood be the next?