With the buyout market heating up and the Golden State Warriors holding a few open roster spots, the front office has a real opportunity to add a veteran piece for the stretch run. One name that’s starting to surface? Pat Connaughton - a former NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks and a player who brings more than just box score numbers to the table.
Connaughton was recently waived by the Charlotte Hornets, a move that didn’t exactly catch the league by surprise. His role had steadily diminished in Charlotte’s rotation, and while the fit never quite clicked, that doesn’t mean he’s out of gas.
Far from it. The 11-year vet still has qualities that playoff teams covet - namely, experience, toughness, and the ability to knock down open threes.
Let’s talk about the shooting. Connaughton’s career three-point percentage sits at 35.7%, and while that’s not elite, it’s reliable - especially when you consider the volume and context of his attempts.
He’s a rhythm shooter who understands spacing, knows when to relocate, and doesn’t force bad looks. In Charlotte this season, he quietly hit 40.7% from deep in 22 games.
The scoring average - just 2.9 points per game - doesn’t jump off the page, but that was more a product of limited minutes and touches than a reflection of his skillset.
Where Connaughton really makes his mark, though, is in the intangible department. He’s logged 86 playoff games, including pivotal minutes during Milwaukee’s 2021 championship run. He’s been in the trenches, understands defensive schemes, and doesn’t shy away from doing the dirty work - whether it’s chasing shooters around screens, crashing the glass, or making the extra pass.
For a Warriors team that still believes it has one more run in the tank, Connaughton fits the mold of the kind of player who can provide depth without disrupting chemistry. He won’t demand the ball, but he’ll be ready when his number’s called. Think of him as a plug-and-play wing who can help stabilize second units or slide into closing lineups when matchups call for it.
The Warriors have long valued high-IQ veterans who know how to win. Connaughton checks that box. And while he may not be the kind of splashy addition that dominates headlines, he’s the kind of under-the-radar move that can pay dividends come playoff time.