The Golden State Warriors have a difficult offseason ahead after being eliminated in the Play-In Tournament. The Warriors’ loss to the Sacramento Kings was disappointing and creates a wild Warriors free agency ahead.
Stephen Curry is 36 years old and still playing at a high level. Curry took home the Clutch Player of the Year award after another great season. He averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 45 percent from the floor and 40.8 percent from three.
Although Curry is still an elite player, the core around him is regressing. Klay Thompson has taken a step back over the past few seasons, which was evident this year. Thompson had zero points in the Play-In Tournament and shot 0-10 from the field. The 34-year-old is a free agent and wants a big contract, which makes it unlikely for him to remain with the Warriors.
Golden State will also have to consider moving Andrew Wiggins in a trade, as he has three years remaining on a four-year $109 million deal he signed.
Wiggins’s production dwindled from his expected output in the Bay Area. He averaged 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from downtown.
With his contract, he’s another potential player who could be moved. The Warriors need to maximize Curry’s remaining time in the league and improve their roster. With that in mind, here are three early Warriors NBA free-agency targets in the 2024 offseason.
Warriors sign Andre Drummond
Golden State hasn’t prioritized adding a star big throughout its dynasty, and that likely won’t change. Instead, the Warriors need to add a physical center for their bench unit.
Andre Drummond is one of the best backup centers in the league, as he’s an elite rebounder and has the frame to body up against top centers. The 30-year-old appeared in 79 games, averaging 8.4 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor.
Drummond’s rebounding could create extra opportunities for the Warriors, which has always been deadly for a Curry-led offense.
Golden State turns attention to Spencer Dinwiddie
Spencer Dinwiddie is a guard who could be an impactful signing for the Warriors bench unit. Dinwiddie averaged 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 39.2 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from downtown.
The 31-year-old guard is a quality scorer and playmaker who could be added on a cheap deal. Golden State will likely decline Chris Paul’s $30 million team option, which will create a void at the backup point guard spot.
Dinwiddie would be a cheap replacement as a quality role player.
Mason Plumlee enters the Warriors’ radar
Another backup big option for the Warriors could be Mason Plumlee. The Warriors have Trayce Jackson-Davis as their current starter, and he had a solid rookie campaign. Golden State also used Draymond Green as a small ball five, with Kevon Looney seeing sporadic minutes.
With Looney on a tradeable contract, signing a backup like Plumlee could make sense. They could then use Looney’s expiring $8 million contract in a trade.
Plumlee is a solid traditional big who averaged 5.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Los Angeles Clippers this season. Plumlee will be one of their better affordable options with the Warriors cap situation.
Golden State has many tough decisions to make this offseason. The first big decision they have to make is whether to retain Thompson. This is a pivotal offseason for the Warriors as they embark on their journey to retool the roster around Curry.
