Golden State Warriors: 5 potential free agency targets in 2018

2. Kyle O’Quinn and the MLE big man market

Even if the Warriors want to use the MLE on a wing, doing so may not make sense. If the top options go elsewhere for more money, years or minutes, there’s no reason to overpay a minimum-level guy (see: Young, Nick).

This is compounded by the fact that Kyle O’Quinn has been linked to Golden State, both at last season’s trade deadline and recently by The Athletic‘s Marcus Thompson:

Outside of the best-case scenario wing options, there is not a better fit on this market than O’Quinn. He is a terrific high-post passer in the mold of Pachulia, while flashing a jumper close to that of West (88th percentile from midrange last season, per Cleaning The Glass).

He can finish in the pick-and-roll and is a strong rebounder, quality rim protector and serviceable switch guy. In terms of the skills Golden State has looked for in its centers under Steve Kerr, no one who has come through checks as many boxes as O’Quinn. (Quick tangent: Bell is close, but is not the shooter O’Quinn is, and while he can pass nicely on the move, he currently lacks the poise to survey and dish from 15-18 feet out).

It is possible another team offers O’Quinn the larger non-taxpayer MLE, and he will have a decision to make. If not, the Warriors should easily top his list.

There are other good MLE big man options. Montrezl Harrell could be a terror in the McGee role, and Brook Lopez would be a nightmare in pick-and-pop. Neither is likely to be available for $5.3 million, however. Even if they are (and for that matter, even if O’Quinn is), Golden State must table talks with any center until they do their due diligence on the guys we will discuss next.