In a perfect world, the Golden State Warriors forget the embarrassing, historic loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals by snagging Kevin Durant in free agency.
If not, the Warriors have their eyes on other major names such as Al Horford, Hassan Whiteside and Nicolas Batum.
Marcus Thompson of The Mercury News revealed the team’s plans:
According to sources familiar with free agent talks, the Warriors are looking at Al Horford, Joakim Noah and even Hassan Whiteside. The contract demands might be too hefty but the goal is clear. The Warriors can’t thrive with a center that doesn’t attack the rim or score inside.
Free agents Nicolas Batum and Evan Turner are among the players being considered at small forward, per sources, if the Warriors don’t get Kevin Durant. Which means the Warriors will be taking a long, hard look at if they can do better than Harrison Barnes.
That’s a lot to digest, but it’s necessary to try.
Necessary, because odds seem strong the Oklahoma City Thunder get Durant back on a short-term deal.
It’s interesting, though, to hear the Warriors might have an interest in guys as expensive as Horford or Whiteside given the team’s innovative small-ball approach that has centers sitting on the bench often.
Still, it’s hard to complain. Horford is one of the most sound players in the league and could be done with the Atlanta Hawks. Whiteside is a restricted free agent, but just averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game with the Miami Heat. In other words, at 27 years old he’s worth every penny if the Warriors want to get one of the game’s best young centers and add a new dimension to the attack.
Perhaps more interesting is the Warriors flirting with the idea of moving on from Harrison Barnes, who collapsed down the stretch in the Finals. Batum is the notable here, as the 27-year-old forward just averaged 14.9 points, 5.8 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game in his first season with the Charlotte Hornets. Not only does he shoot 36 percent from deep on his career, Batum perfectly fits what the Warriors need a hybrid forward to do within the offense.
It sounds like the Warriors will be more active this offseason than most would have predicted, giving weight to the rumors. How much the tank job in the Finals has to do with that is hard to say, but it sure adds another interesting element to the offseason equation.
