Golden State Warriors: 5 potential free agency targets in 2018
The Golden State Warriors do not have a ton of money to throw around in 2018 free agency. But do they need it?
Few teams have as little money or as much power entering the 2018 offseason as the Golden State Warriors.
This paradox is made possible by the relative unimportance of the team’s lack of spending power. Less than half the league has more than the full non-taxpayer Mid-Level Exception ($8.6 million) in cap room, and only six or seven teams are likely to activate that space by renouncing cap holds.
In other words, outside of the summer’s biggest free agents, few players will get more than $8.6 million.
Assuming they re-sign Kevin Durant, the Warriors will again be deep into the luxury tax. As a result, their only avenues to add talent will be the taxpayer MLE ($5.3 million) and minimum contracts.
Given the crunch that many talented free agents are going to feel this summer, those tools may be sufficient. Sure, $5.3 million is less than $8.6 million, but joining a burgeoning dynasty and playing alongside superstars and under coaches who make life easy on both ends may make up for that difference.
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When it comes to minimum guys, the Warriors have those same advantages without the financial disadvantage. Dominant teams always tend to control the minimum market, but rarely has that market been this robust.
As 2018 NBA free agency approaches, the Warriors will have two major roster holes: Wing depth and center depth. They can bring back their own guys, as Patrick McCaw, JaVale McGee, David West, Kevon Looney, Zaza Pachulia and Nick Young will join Durant as free agents. However, given the up-and-down impact and health of every member of that group, they should be able to find upgrades externally.
I have ranked the five markets the Warriors should be targeting, and highlighted the best options from those groups.