The Golden State Warriors are not going to be overly active on the NBA free agent market. They simply don’t have the capability under the new collective bargaining agreement.
As of right now, the 2022 NBA champions are over the second luxury tax level. From our understanding, this eliminates the taxpayer mid-level exception, meaning the Warriors will be limited to veteran minimum contracts.
Fresh off a disappointing second-round exit in the 2023 NBA Playoffs and with longtime general manager Bob Myers having opted not to return, this summer is going to be incredibly important to keep the Warriors’ championship window open. Here’s a look at five free-agent targets from a group of players within the Warriors’ price range.
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DeAndre Jordan
These are the types of players the Warriors will look at on the NBA free agent market. That is to say, veterans who might not be able to play a ton of minutes but can also add something off the bench.
The 34-year-old Jordan is well past his prime. He averaged 5.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 15 minutes per outing for the defending champion Nuggets last season. With that said, size is a major need for the Warriors. Following the in-season trade of the seldom-used James Wiseman, their tallest rotational player was Kevon Looney at 6-foot-9. This showed against Anthony Davis and Los Angeles in the playoffs. Jordan can still provide defense and rebounding in the low post. These are two needs for Golden State.
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Danny Green
Another potential need in free agency will be out on the wing for Golden State. Donte DiVincenzo played extremely well last season after coming over on the midlevel exception. Unfortunately, he has a mere $4.73 million player option for 2023-24. Cap rules will likely prohibit Golden State from being able to contend for his services on the open market.
Enter into the equation a veteran in Green who the Warriors’ aging core has a history of playing against dating back to his time with the San Antonio Spurs. Like Jordan, he’ll be limited in terms of minutes. He’s also past his prime at 35. But we’re talking about a veteran who is shooting 40% from three-point range throughout his career.
Patrick Beverley
Beverley and Draymond Green together on the same team could end up being a lightning rod. It could also light a fire under the Warriors as they attempt to regain championship contention status. It also must be noted that the Dubs were in on Beverley after his buyout from the Orlando Magic last season.
Point guard behind Stephen Curry could become a need if Golden State opts to trade the inconsistent Jordan Poole. Even if the Warriors retain Poole, he’s better suited for off-ball duties given the youngster’s erratic ways. Beverley would be an ideal fit with his fire, defensive capabilities and ability to run an offense off the bench.
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Kevin Love
It seems as if the Warriors have been linked to Love dating back to his days with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Remember the Klay Thompson for Love trade chatter years back? Yeah, that seems like eons ago.
What we do know is that the veteran would actually be a perfect fit with the Golden State Warriors. His ability to hit the outside shot is something the Dubs are missing from low-post players. He can play both low-post spots and performed well for the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat after a buyout from the Cavaliers (7.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG).
Seth Curry
Very few realize that Seth Curry spent roughly two months with the Warriors about a decade ago. They were actually his first NBA team long before his brother became a four-time champion and all-time great.
That random piece of NBA history aside, Curry could make sense for this iteration of the Golden State Warriors. Sure, he’s a liability on defense. But the younger Curry is a career 44% three-point shooter. With DiVincenzo likely gone and a need for shooting off the bench, acquiring Seth on a minimum contract makes sense. He also might want to join his brother in Northern California while chasing a championship. That can’t be lost on this.