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The Golden State Warriors will be competing for yet another NBA Championship next season when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson return from their long-term injuries. Since their appearance in the 2019 NBA finals, star forward Kevin Durant has left the franchise, while Andrew Wiggins has joined the team after weeks of NBA Trade Rumors concerning his future as his replacement.
With Draymond Green set to start as the power forward, it is the center position that needs immediate attention for the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors will reportedly trade their second overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft away this offseason and opt to tread a win-now route. Irrespective of whether they pick up a center in that potential deal or not, they would always require another off the bench.
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Let us look at the five best options for the Golden State Warriors at the center position from the free agency market this off-season.
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Also Read: NBA Trade Rumors: 5 moves involving Julius Randle that the New York Knicks must consider
#5 NBA Trade Rumors: Golden State Warriors know what Meyers Leonard is capable of
Although the Golden State Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers 4-0 in the West Conference finals last season, one player who stood out in particular was Meyers Leonard. Leonard was given a handsome four-year/$41 million contract in 2016 by the Blazers, who had high expectations from him.
He never quite lived up the hype and the Blazers ended up trading him to the Miami Heat in the 2019 offseason. However, that wasn't before he ended his Portland stint in the best way possible.
Meyers Leonard went off in his final game with the Blazers to score a career-high 30 points. The 7'1" stretch big wasn't someone the Warriors had prepared for as he had barely played in the playoffs that season. However, he came up with a big performance when he was handed a rare start.
Now in Miami, Leonard hasn't quite made it to their rotation either, but he would be perfect fit to come off the bench for the Golden State Warriors. He is tall, can catch a lob, and is a career 39% shooter from outside the arc, meaning he can stretch the floor very effectively.
#4 Frank Kaminsky can provide a bench scoring option to the Golden State Warriors
Frank Kaminsky was one of the few underrated players in a poor Charlotte Hornets side who joined the Phoenix Suns in 2019. He had above-average statistics in almost every offensive category despite playing for a relatively weaker team. Kaminsky is a career 10 points per game scorer and could be a solid addition to the GSW bench.
He is still only 27 and could potentially get better under Steve Kerr's coaching. Kaminsky isn't a good rebounder for his position, but he can make up for his lackluster defense by hitting threes at above 35% efficiency when he finds his rhythm. He shot 33% for the Phoenix Suns and has also shot up to 38% for the Hornets in the past.
#3 NBA Trade Rumors: Alex Len could contribute on both ends for the Golden State Warriors
By the end of the 2018-19 season, Alex Len had developed a bit of a presence from downtown. He dropped 74 of his 204 attempts - a respectable 36.3%. However, he seemed to have lost his touch from outside in the season that followed for the Atlanta Hawks. Unsurprisingly, the franchise decided to trade him to the Sacramento Kings.
The Golden State Warriors could decide to take a gamble on his hit and miss shooting from outside because of his contributions on the defensive end.
Len has averaged a block a game throughout his NBA career to go with 6.3 rebounds. If he can recreate his form from 2018-19 again, he would be a wise pick up for the Golden State Warriors.
#2 NBA Trade Rumors: Aron Baynes is in the form of his life and could be a good addition to the Golden State Warriors' roster
Aron Baynes' performance against the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2019-20 regular season should be reason enough for the Golden State Warriors to chase him in free agency. Baynes helped the Suns to a 10-point win against Damian Lillard and co. He dropped a career-high 37 points, including 9 triples. The 33-year-old also had 16 rebounds and 2 blocks to add to the insane scoring.
Aron Baynes is playing the best basketball of his career and aging like fine wine. He is a more significant offensive threat now than he has ever been before, as he smashed his former career-high points per game record (6.6) to average 11.5 for the Suns.
This season, Baynes played over 20 minutes a night for the first time in his career and finally showed what he is capable of. The Golden State Warriors should capitalize on Baynes' red-hot streak and go for him this offseason.
#1 NBA Trade Rumors: Marc Gasol could be willing to take a pay-cut to join the Golden State Warriors
One of the best centers in recent NBA history, Marc Gasol finally won himself an NBA Championship last season with the Toronto Raptors. Now 36, the Spaniard is out of contract and will most likely be leaving the Toronto Raptors. Gasol isn't the assured 15 points per game scorer like he once was, but he's still one of the most complete centers in the league.
Gasol shot the three at 40% efficiency in his two seasons with the Raptors and is a career 48% scorer from the field. Additionally, the 36-year-old is a very decent rim protector and is also an extremely competent playmaker, averaging over 3 assists in his long NBA career.
He would probably look for more money than the MLE can get him, but if he wants to compete for another NBA title, the Golden State Warriors could convince him to take a pay cut to join them.
Also Read: NBA Trade Rumors: LA Lakers could look at Victor Oladipo as a viable option this off-season
Warriors Nation! You can check out the latest Golden State Warriors Schedule and dive into the Warriors Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.
