2016 NBA Free Agency: 5 Best Bargain Deals
Warriors Add Veterans To Star-Studded Roster
Additions: Zaza Pachulia: one year, $2.9 million; David West: one year, $1.3 million
Beyond agreeing with the 7’0” shooting guard with unlimited range made by the basketball gods for Steve Kerr’s system best player available on the market, the Warriors were depleted of a bench unit that allowed the the team to go 73-9 while playing every starter under 35 minutes per game (Draymond Green led the team with 34.7 minutes per game).
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News reported that the Warriors plan to shift Draymond Green to center full-time next season, but there are still minutes to be distributed to a frontcourt with open roster spots after denouncing Festus Ezeli and Harrison Barnes and trading Andrew Bogut in order to make room for Durant.
While the soon-to-be Four Horsemen lineup plus Iguodala will finish games, the Warriors most likely won’t rely on it too heavily in the regular season after watching Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala break down throughout the playoffs.
Insert these two big men.
First ZaZa Pachulia, now David West to the Warriors, per @daldridgetnt. Ring chasers flocking to the Bay--and Dubs are happy to have them.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) July 5, 2016
That’s one year, $1.29M for West, on top of getting Zaza Pachulia for $2.9 million. Amazing value for bigs in this market.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 5, 2016
In Pachulia and West, the Warriors get not just two trusted veterans off the court on remarkably low cost deals, but still useful contributors on it.
The Vertical’s Shams Charania broke news that the Mavericks center would be agreeing on a one-year deal for just $2.9 million after fans nearly voted the journeyman into the All-Star Game last year.
Pachulia averaged 8.6 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game last season, but more importantly, he brings a specific attribute that the Warriors lack (beyond the basic lack of warm bodies): offensive rebounding.
Pachulia averaged 3.3 offensive rebounds per game last year, tied for fourth-most in the NBA. He isn’t just the product of a plethora of missed Raymond Felton fadeaways either (though, it certainly helped, in all fairness); Pachulia grabbed a higher percentage of contested rebounds— 77.9 percent— than Blake Griffin, Bismack Biyombo and Tristan Thompson.
He’s not the rim protector Andrew Bogut was and he won’t shift the outcome of many games, but he doesn’t have to — he just needs to be effective, and grab however few sparse misses come his way.
David West also reportedly agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum, per NBA.com’s David Aldridge, continuing his Gollum-like quest for a ring. Of course, Twitter let him have it, but regardless of motive it’s a strong move for the Warriors.
Not sure where David West fits on the court. The new Mo Buckets?
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) July 5, 2016
David West truly one of the NBA's good guys. Lots of people around the league would be happy for him getting a ring. https://t.co/3q3o9uzzCx
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) July 5, 2016
After opting out $12.5 million with the Pacers, West joined the Spurs and averaged 7.1 points and 4.0 rebounds on 54.4 percent in 78 games last season. A bruiser with a strong midrange game, West should provide a nice frontcourt scoring option for the Warriors bench unit.
West leaves behind San Antonio and was rumored to be a top target for the Cavaliers. Not only is he yet another veteran addition in the Warriors’ summer of endless riches, but Golden State prevents two key opponents from upgrading their roster, too.
Next: The Pacers' Roster Overhaul Continues