The Golden State Warriors still have two open roster spots, and the search for help has started to feel a lot more specific. They’ve been connected to names like Kelly Olynyk, Georges Niang and Brandon Williams, but if Golden State wants a real jolt on offense while Jimmy Butler is out with injury, the answer might come from a former All-Star who knows exactly how to carry a scoring load.
There hasn’t been the flurry of movement many expected after LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers last month, which has left several recognizable veterans sitting on the market. The Warriors haven’t been tied heavily to this group, but these are the kind of players who could step into the rotation and help bridge the gap until Butler returns from his torn ACL.
DeMar DeRozan sits at the top of that list. He may be the best available player not named James Harden or one of the restricted free agents, after putting up 18.4 points and 4.1 assists for the Sacramento Kings last season before being stretched-and-waived earlier this offseason.
Golden State had at least some interest in him if they missed out on James, but that hasn’t gone anywhere since the 41-year-old chose the Philadelphia 76ers. If the Warriors are looking for someone who can replicate even part of Butler’s offensive impact, DeRozan is the cleanest fit still out there.
The issue is competition. There are multiple teams reportedly in the mix, and Golden State can’t offer much beyond the minimum. Add in the fact that they aren’t viewed as a true contender right now, and the odds of a deal getting done start to shrink fast.
Bradley Beal is another name that makes some sense on paper. The Warriors were reportedly interested in him before he joined the L.A.
Clippers last offseason, but there haven’t been any fresh links this summer after the three-time All-Star opted out of his player option and hit free agency again. The bigger question is which Beal would actually show up.
Last season, he managed just 8.2 points on under 38% shooting in six games before hip surgery ended his year. But if a team could get the version he showed in Phoenix - 17.0 points and 3.7 assists on 50/39/80 shooting splits - that would be a smart bet on a cheap deal.
Then there’s Russell Westbrook, the long shot of all long shots. He feels like the least likely player of the three to get another NBA contract, much less land in Golden State, a team that seems about as anti-Westbrook as you could imagine.
Even so, a quiet offseason has prompted some Warriors fans to think about him as a wild-card option. The fit would be unusual, but the need is real enough: Golden State lost Pat Spencer to the Phoenix Suns and could use another backup point guard.
Westbrook also still produced last season, averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists with Sacramento.
Still, this one borders on fantasy. Westbrook is trying to keep his Hall of Fame career going into a 19th season, but the Warriors look like a highly improbable landing spot.
In Other News...
Warriors Could Be Putting Huge Pressure On Jimmy Butlers Return
The Warriors are heading into next season with a familiar kind of uncertainty, and this one centers on Jimmy Butlers absence. Golden State expects to spend the early months without him, and the timing raises an obvious question about how stable the team can be before Butler is back in the lineup. The comparison to Klay Thompsons return is a useful one, but it also underscores how different the context is now than it was then.
When Thompson came back, the Warriors were in a far better place to absorb the wait and ease him in. This time, the pressure cuts the other way, with Golden State needing to survive the opening stretch in a rugged Western Conference and keep itself afloat long enough for Butler to matter. If the team is struggling by the time he returns, the margin for error shrinks fast, and Butler may be asked to make an immediate impact the moment he steps on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Still Have A Forward Problem As Free Agency Picture Shifts
The Warriors search for another frontcourt piece has not exactly gotten cleaner as free agency settles into its next phase. San Antonio added a little intrigue by sharing footage that appeared to show Kelly Olynyk training with the Spurs in France, while NBA insider Jake Fischer said Golden State could still wind up looking at Olynyk or Georges Niang as it tries to patch a forward spot that remains unsettled.
Niang has become an especially interesting name in that conversation because he could fit the kind of role the Warriors need if their injury situation forces them to keep adding depth. He has also shown solid form in recent appearances, which only adds to the appeal, but there has been no official sign of a signing yet, leaving Golden States next move very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]