Golden State Warriors: Examining potential avenues at the center position
By Dalton Sell
One of the most compelling questions for the Golden State Warriors this offseason is if they should seek an upgrade at the center position or not.
Being one of eight teams not invited to the NBA’s restart, the Golden State Warriors have not played since March 10th. That has not stopped them from staying in the headlines, however, as this team is shaping up to make a triumphant comeback next season.
With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both coming back to full strength alongside Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, a healthy Golden State team could be dangerous. However, the final piece of the puzzle still in question is what the team plans to do at the center position. They already have positions one through four secured, but five seems up in the air.
The Warriors essentially have three different routes they can take in making a decision, each potentially being a viable option.
Free agency
Although this upcoming free-agent class is not the most star-studded and the Golden State Warriors do not have the most spending money, at least surveying the market might not hurt.
Over the course of their five championship appearances this past half-decade, Golden State has predominantly had a veteran big man in the five-spot. Whether it was Andrew Bogut, JaVale McGee, or DeMarcus Cousins, the Warriors’ track record consists of experienced players down low. With Kevon Looney and Marquese Chriss being 24 and 23 years old respectively, targeting a savvy veteran might be the right move for the right price.
A few big men that might be intriguing fits would be Aron Baynes, Meyers Leonard, or Robin Lopez, all who likely would not command lucrative deals. Each player brings a veteran presence that could be useful as the Warriors re-enter legitimate title contention status.