Kerr says Dubs want to add one or two vets in free agency

Share

The Warriors face a vital offseason once the NBA's bubble playoffs conclude.

While most of the talk surrounding the Warriors' offseason priorities revolves around pulling off a magic trade for another superstar, Steve Kerr and the Warriors' brass have a more realistic goal in mind for free agency.

"We’d like to add a veteran or two in free agency, but I don’t even know if that’s possible," Kerr told The Athletic's Anthony Slater when discussing the recent additions of Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa to the front office. "We’ll see how everything shakes out. So it’s almost, you know, if we can’t do that, if we can’t add a Zaza Pachulia or David West in free agency, we’ve gotta be able to do that on the staff. So I think that’s a big part of why Shaun and LB are here, to provide some of that mentoring."

After five straight trips to the NBA Finals. the Warriors' roster underwent massive changes last offseason. Kevin Durant left for the Brooklyn Nets in free agency, Andre Iguodala was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, DeMarcus Cousins joined the Los Angeles Lakers and Livingston retired.

The end result was a Warriors team that was filled with youth, with nine of the Warriors' 14 opening-day players being under 23 years old.

With Klay Thompson missing the entire season and Steph Curry playing in only five games, it was left largely to Draymond Green to be the Warriors' veteran leader during a turbulent season that saw them finish at 15-50.

RELATED: How Giannis' meeting with Bucks reportedly went

After a year spent at the bottom of the NBA, the Warriors are expected to return to title contention next season with Curry, Thompson, Green and Andrew Wiggins forming a dangerous quartet. The Warriors also own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and have a $17.2 million trade exception to use to bolster their roster in the offseason.

The injection of youth was nice, but the Warriors will need battle-tested veterans in order to get back to the Finals.

There should be a number of quality veterans on the market looking to title chase with the Warriors this offseason. Serge Ibaka, Paul Millsap, Marc Gasol, Derrick Favors and Marcus Morris, among others, all are set to hit the market and will be looking to sign with a contender.

The Warriors don't have much cap room but will have the taxpayer mid-level exception and their $17.2 million trade exception to fill out what should be one of the best rosters in the NBA.

Contact Us