General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s offseason free agency check list is short, but challenging.
First, re-sign Draymond Green. Second, sign frontcourt players who can shoot and play within the Warriors’ scheme.
Finding such a frontcourt player could challenging given the Warriors’ free-agency restrictions enforced by the new collective bargaining agreement. As “second apron” violators this season, they are only allowed to re-sign their own players and sign free agents to veteran minimum contracts.
Adding more to that challenge are the skills a player should possess to get minutes within the Warriors’ system. Head coach Steve Kerr prioritizes players who can rebound and defend their position, be a quick decision-maker within their motion offense and, to fill a frontcourt need, shoot the ball.
“All we’re going to be able to have is minimums, so we have to work with that,” Dunleavy said on draft night. “We’re looking at veteran players who can fit into our rotation. Shooting is always a premium, two-way play is always a premium and it’s obvious we need to add size and skill, specifically shooting, I think would go a long way in complementing our frontcourt.”
A power forward or center in free agency who can do all those things will likely field offers above the veteran minimum. So the financial limitations the Warriors face means they may have to take some gambles on an imperfect player that fits the role.
The Warriors have often sacrificed size for skill — that sacrifice came back to bite in their playoff loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with seven-foot Anthony Davis. They’ve also hit big on some gambles.
In 2021, Otto Porter Jr. was getting uninspiring offers from other teams because of his injury struggles. So, he signed the veteran minimum with the Warriors and transformed into just the right fit at power forward despite being slightly undersized at 6-foot-8. Not only could he shoot — 37% from 3 on 5.6 attempts per 36 minutes — but he rebounded (9.3 rebounds per 36 minutes) and kept the ball moving. He started Finals games en route to his first NBA title.
The Warriors haven’t always struck gold on veteran minimums. JaMychal Green signed last year hoping to fill Porter’s role after he left for Toronto in free agency, but couldn’t do the basics well enough to earn minutes.
Can the Warriors find another gem in the rough? Here are a few names to watch for.
Dario Saric, 29, 6-foot-10, power forward and center
Saric does all the little things Kerr and the Warriors could want from a frontcourt player — with a little extra. He can rebound, move the ball in a motion offense and stretch the floor as a 3-point shooter.
The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired the veteran at last year’s deadline from a Phoenix Suns team with a lot of center options and little use for Saric, who isn’t known for his ability to protect the paint.
Between both teams last season he averaged 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 6.4 points per game shooting 39% from 3 on an average two attempts per game averaging 9.3 rebounds per 36 minutes, a similar clip to Porter.
Now a free agent, Saric could be an easy target for Golden State or any other contender. But watch for other teams without CBA restrictions to entice him with more money than the veteran minimum.
Yuta Watanabe, 28, 6-foot-8, small forward or power forward
Watanabe is a sharp 3-point shooter who hit 44% of his 3s (2.3 makes on 5.2 attempts) per 36 minutes last season with the Brooklyn Nets.
He may be undersized as a power forward, but the Warriors have had some success turning wings into bigs. Plus, Watanabe is a scrappy defender who isn’t afraid to get up and block a shot and rebound — he averaged 7.6 rebounds per 36. Watanabe could be a beneficiary of the motion offense who will take the catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. It may be tricky to get Watanabe on a veteran minimum.
Danilo Gallinari, 35, 6-foot-10, power forward
Gallinari was shipped from the Boston Celtics to the Washington Wizards as part of the Kristaps Porzingis/Marcus Smart swap — but Gallinari is on an expiring contract and there are reports that the Wizards could buy him out.
If Gallinari is bought out, the Warriors could have a shot at the veteran power forward in free agency. But that comes with plenty of risk.
Gallinari tore his ACL on Sept. 2 and didn’t play a second with the Boston Celtics last year. Perhaps Gallinari will accept a veteran minimum off injury, but managing the post-ACL minutes will be a challenge and he may have some defensive limitations — especially at age 35. If Gallinari can stay healthy and useful, his strengths as a play facilitator and shooter fits the Warriors’ needs offensively perfectly with the requisite size. He averaged 6.6 rebounds and shot 38 percent from 3 per 36 in his last full healthy season with the Atlanta Hawks and regularly shot over 40 percent from 3 in his career.
He’s a gamble because of his health and age, but the reward could be sweet.
