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The Golden State Warriors have had a bit of a rocky season thus far, to say the least. They currently sit at 10th in the Western Conference with a 22-24 record and they have lost four straight. The Warriors have been at this level despite the MVP play of Steph Curry. Steph is averaging an incredible 28.9 points per game on 64% true shooting. The Warriors have struggled to put much around Curry this year and the team's record has suffered for it.
Golden State has two different paths they can go for the rest of the season and their buyout signing will be an indication of that direction. The Warriors could decide to continue on the losing path, sitting Curry for long periods of time, and trying to improve their draft position. The Warriors could also decide to continue chasing the play-in and trying to claw for a low end playoff spot.
The buyout market is looking to be lucrative this year. Many goof players and veterans find themselves on losing teams that have little need for their services. The trade deadline only added to this notion as players like Avery Bradley and Otto Porter Jr were traded to losing teams who are likely to buy them out. Buyout players will also likely have many suitors and this could be the rare buyout market where players get more than the veterans minimum.
Buyout Target # 1: Otto Porter Jr
Otto Porter Jr has had a tumultuous career due to dealing with injury. Porter Jr would be a player that the Warriors sign if winning is not the goal for the rest of the season. This isn't because Porter Jr can't contribute to winning, but because the Warriors could use this signing as a try-out. Golden State is renowned for its medical staff and getting your own doctors' eyes on a player before potentially signing them to a big contract in the offseason can be very valuable.
Porter Jr plays the most important position in basketball; the wing. If he could remain healthy and play the way he did in Washington or Chicago, he could be the starting small forward for the Warriors next year. If the Warriors goal is to compete for a title next year with Klay back and healthy, trying out Porter Jr before the offseason makes a lot of sense.
Buyout Target # 2: Gorgui Dieng
Dieng is one of the more underrated backup centers in the league and he would provide a different aspect to the Warriors on both sides of the ball. His floor-spacing ability would open up the game for Draymond Green to run the offense more while Steph is out and allow for the Curry and Green pick and roll game to work in the open floor.
Dieng is likely a temporary fit because he is older and the Warriors have their hopeful center of the future in James Wiseman, but Dieng could help the Warriors chase a playoff spot. The Warriors priorities are unknown at this deadline, but if it's to win now, Dieng makes sense. He could likely be signed for the minimum as well and thus the Warriors will not have to clear cap space to sign him.
Buyout Target # 3: Luke Kornet
This is an interesting target for the Warriors but Kornet could make a lot of sense in their system. Kornet is one of the better shooting centers in the league, even though that's about all he does. He could help the Warriors with their desperately needed spacing. He is also a useful defensive player in drop coverage. The Warriors lack size in general and Kornet provides that.
Kornet is yet to find a true home in the NBA, but he still has some potential as a 7'1, 3-and-D center. The Warriors would be the perfect team to take a bet on him. He could help provide space offensively and Steve Kerr generally does a good job developing players defensively.
Buyout Target #4: Avery Bradley
Avery Bradley has had a pretty rough year thus far with the Miami Heat and he was included as part of the deal that got the Heat Victor Oladipo. The Rockets are awful this year and they are very unlikely to hold onto Bradley. Bradley could fill a backup guard role for the Warriors and help their struggling defense.
Bradley fills the dual role as a player who can help the Warriors now and be a bet for a potential title run next year. If the Warriors can rehab some of Bradley's value, he can really be a piece of a good team. Bradley is a tenacious defender at the point of attack and he can be an intuitive cutter and scorer on offense. He's contributed to great teams before, the Warriors would just have to hope he returns to that form.
