After finishing the regular season with a record of 39-33, the Golden State Warriors had a chance to clinch a playoff berth last season in the NBA's first-ever play-in tournament, but the Dubs eventually failed. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies.
After seeing superstar Stephen Curry put up monster stats every night and finish third on the MVP race, the Warriors must continue their plan to surround him with as much talent as they can this offseason. Winning now is a priority. Their three-player core — Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — is in their 30s.
The Warriors are optimistic next season because All-star Klay Thompson is finally close to returning from his ACL injury, and as we witnessed every time the Splash Brothers enter the floor together, the spacing and shooting are first-rate. To build a championship-caliber team, the Warriors must address their bench talent. They clearly struggled whenever Steph checked out of the game for a breather.
Jordan Poole was one of the brighter sides on the Warriors bench as he showed flashes that he can be a solid scorer off the bench. Poole helped Curry shoulder some of the burdens of carrying the Warriors offensively. If it weren't for Curry's hot shooting nights, the Dubs could have ended up with a much worse record.
Assuming Curry continues his red-hot form next season and barring any setbacks from Klay's injuries, adding a few tested and proven veterans in the league would surely boost the chances of Golden State winning another chip.
Here are X under-the-radar free agents the Warriors should try signing:
Warriors targets: Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap is what the Warriors need right now, a solid and scrappy defender who can shoot behind the arc and has a lot of playoff experience under his belt. Given his age, the four-time All-star would be willing to take a significant pay cut to join a championship-contending team. Millsap is a great fit because of his selflessness, since he can affect the game without having the ball in his hands. Millsap can guard multiple positions given his 6'7 and 257-pound frame.
Nicolas Batum
Nicolas Batum had the highest plus-minus among the members of the Los Angeles Clippers during their playoff run. According to Statmuse, the Frenchman was +135 in the 2021 playoffs. Batum's contributions are not necessarily showing up on the box score, as he doesn't produce eye-popping stats. Batum is a really good passer for his size and is also capable of guarding four positions which is a luxury if you have that kind of player in today's NBA. Head coach Steve Kerr admitted that they tried hard to sign Batum in the last offseason, and with Klay Thompson coming back, Batum could be tempted to sign for the Warriors.
Danny Green
You really can't have too much shooting if you're in Golden State. Danny Green is a deadeye shooter who also happens to have a lot of experience as he won three NBA Championships including one against the Warriors when he played for the Raptors in 2018. Green averaged 9.8 points on a solid 40.5% shooting rate from deep. The marksman would immediately be able to adjust to Golden State's system and offensive scheme, because he played for teams which had a style similar to the Dubs.
Patty Mills
The Warriors struggled with ball-handling and playmaking whenever both Draymond and Steph were out last season. Signing Patty Mills would provide them a spark off the bench, a player who is capable of performing playmaking and ball-handling duties. Mills is also a very good sniper. He shot the 3-ball at a 38.8% rate in his career. The Australian point guard would also provide a veteran voice in the locker room. He was also a former NBA champion with the Spurs back in 2014.
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