The Golden State Warriors have very little money to work with and as many as six roster spots to fill this offseason. Such is the nature of the beast when you pay Stephen Curry what was then a league-record contract and are about to re-sign Kevin Durant to a max deal.
Not that this is a bad thing for the two-time defending NBA champs. Without much money to work with, the allure of joining the best team in the Association becomes a major selling point for Golden State.
Already reportedly interested in both DeAndre Jordan and Jamal Crawford, the Warriors are now also in on impending free agents Trevor Ariza and Avery Bradley.
According to USA Today’s Sam Amick, there’s a real chance that Ariza heads to Golden State if he doesn’t find a strong market for his services in free agency. He also notes that Bradley becomes a real possibility.
“If Houston small forward Trevor Ariza can’t find a big-time payday with the Rockets or anyone else, the prospect of joining the Warriors on a one-year deal is known to be of interest,” the NBA insider reports. “Golden State has also discussed Avery Bradley as an option, which comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen the eight-year veteran hound the Warriors’ scorers these past few years.”
Golden State has just the $5.3 million mid-level exception and veteran minimum contracts to offer free agents. Both of these players would seemingly get more on the open market. Though, we’re also expecting non-stars similar to Ariza and Bradley to find a relatively cold free agent market with over half the NBA over the salary cap. If so, that certainly benefits the Warriors.
Ariza, 33, averaged 11.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season. If he signs with the Warriors, he’d join Andre Iguodala as a veteran wing off the bench. Meanwhile, Bradley is known more for his defense and would be a tremendous bench option to team up with Shaun Livingston and Quinn Cook in the backcourt.
Both are starter-caliber players on a championship contending team.