Five big men Warriors should target in NBA free agency
The Warriors just added the best big man available in the draft with No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman. However, it doesn't sound as if they're satisfied with the state of their frontcourt even after adding the 7-foot-1 center. Golden State is eyeing at least four other big men in free agency despite making the Wiseman pick, sources told NBC Sports Bay Area.Here are five they should be targeting:
The Warriors went after him years ago. And now the time is right for them to do so again. Howard, 34, did well to refurbish his reputation this past season with the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 18.9 minutes during the regular season. And his performance in the bubble suggests he still has plenty left in the tank. From a purely physical standpoint, Howard would be a tremendous person for Wiseman to learn under, and would provide Golden State with a veteran presence so as to not put too much on the rookie's plate. The problem is his price. The Warriors have a $9.3 million disabled player exception and the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception, but beyond that, they'll be left to fill out the roster with minimum contracts. If the Warriors want him, they'll likely have to outbid the Lakers, at the very least.
It's worth noting, though, that NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole reported that some Warriors players have already reached out to a few free-agent bigs, and Howard is said to be among them.
Ibaka might be the most ideal target for the Warriors. He can play multiple positions, is an above-average defender and just happens to be coming off a season in which he shot a career-best 38.5 percent from 3-point range. That is a skill set the Warriors most definitely could use.
The problem is, so could just about every other team in the league. Ibaka is certain to be heavily pursued in free agency, and there's no way Golden State will be able to get him without using either of the exceptions. That said, he'd be worth it.
Wiseman could do a lot worse than having Gasol as a mentor. The 13-year veteran and three-time NBA All-Star has accomplished just about everything there is, having won a championship and been named Defensive Player of the Year. He isn't the player he once was, but he is still capable of giving you 20-plus minutes of very solid play, and that could be a great fit within the Warriors' big man rotation.
He can defend, pass, rebound and shoot the 3. At 35 years of age, he'll likely be looking to join a winning team, and as currently constructed, the Warriors should qualify. But whether or not they can get him for a bargain remains to be seen.
Baynes offers many of the same skills as Ibaka. He's a good defender and screener, and is a competent shooter, as evidenced by his 35.1 3-point percentage last season. He likely played himself at least into the mid-level territory, and is sure to have plenty of suitors on the open market. He would be a great addition to the Warriors' frontcourt. But if the cost is too high, they're probably better going in a cheaper direction, and using the exceptions for other areas of need.
If the Warriors miss out on all of the above options, there still will be an abundance of free-agent big men available on the cheap. Many will be signed to minimum contracts or accept portions of the mid-level.
That works out great for the Warriors and gives them multiple avenues to consider. One that might be worthwhile is Leonard, who can shoot it as well as any big man in the league. Leonard is a career 39.0 percent shooter from 3-point land and has eclipsed 41.0 percent in each of the last three seasons. He's not an imposing defender, but his offensive capabilities consistently make him a winning player. Golden State could do a lot worse than Leonard, especially considering there isn't a proficient perimeter shooter among the frontcourt players currently on the roster.
