Warriors Rumors: Top Buzz Surrounding Pau Gasol, Harrison Barnes and More
The Golden State Warriors came within one win of taking their second consecutive NBA championship in 2015-16 but remain committed to improving so as to avoid falling short for the second year in a row.
In addition to outside free agents, the Dubs have decisions to make regarding players on their own roster. Although top stars such as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are entrenched, tinkering with the complementary pieces is a possibility.
As the free-agent frenzy kicks into high gear, here is a look at the latest rumors surrounding Golden State and its efforts to get back to the top of the NBA mountain.
The Warriors have excelled using a small-ball lineup over the past two seasons, but versatility is key in the NBA, which is why they might pursue one of the top bigs on the open market.
According to ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne, the Dubs have interest in Pau Gasol, who is coming off consecutive All-Star seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
Shelburne stressed that Gasol is only an option if the Warriors fail to sign Kevin Durant, but per Marc Spears of The Undefeated, a person close to Durant said he was leaning 90 percent toward staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
If that is the case, then the soon-to-be 36-year-old Spaniard could be an excellent fit for the two-time reigning Western Conference champions.
Gasol averaged 16.5 points, 11 rebounds, 4.1 assists and two blocks per game last season after putting up 18.5 points per contest during the 2014-15 campaign.
He is a two-time NBA champion and knows how to play with big-time stars such as Curry, as evidenced by his success as Kobe Bryant's wingman during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gasol is a less bulky and more offensively inclined version of Andrew Bogut, so pursuing Gasol could mean that the Warriors intend to part ways with the 7-foot Aussie.
While Bogut has been an asset for the Dubs in terms of his rebounding, passing and ability to set screens, Gasol seems like a better fit. He can run the floor a bit more effectively, and his post-up game is much more lethal.
Gasol should have tons of options at his disposal as he enters his 16th NBA season, but if winning a championship is what appeals most, the Warriors have an excellent shot to reel him in.
Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes has been a key supporting cast member for the Warriors during their rapid ascent to the NBA's peak, but his time in Golden State could be coming to an end due to his status as a restricted free agent.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Marc J. Spears, the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to take a run at Barnes and are considering an offer sheet. While the Warriors' interest in keeping Barnes is contingent on Durant's decision, they also reported that keeping Barnes is a "top priority" should Durant sign elsewhere.
Barnes has served primarily as a starter for Golden State in three of his four NBA seasons, including 59 starts in 66 appearances during the 2015-16 campaign. He set a career high with 11.7 points per contest to go along with 4.9 rebounds.
The former North Carolina product is an athletic wing who poses myriad problems for the opposition, including his ability to knock down shots from long range, as evidenced by his career .376 three-point percentage.
One thing that could potentially give Golden State pause when it comes to giving Barnes a huge contract is his playoff performance.
The former first-round pick averaged just nine points per game and shot a disappointing 38.5 percent from the field. He was especially ineffective against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Golden State's NBA Finals loss.
Barnes is a supreme talent and could possibly approach All-Star levels if given an expanded role with another team, but he is somewhat stuck as a fourth scoring option in Golden State.
He may not prove to be worth the type of money it will take to keep him, however, and disrupting the harmony of a team that won an NBA-record 73 games last season is something the Warriors may want to avoid.
The free-agent market is stacked with quality big men, but one who could potentially come at a bargain price is David West.
According to Stein and Spears, West is among the forwards Golden State is considering chasing in free agency in order to bolster its frontcourt depth.
West proved last offseason that money is far from his top priority, as he signed a deal for well below his market value to chase a championship with the San Antonio Spurs.
That move didn't work out, as the Spurs were ousted in the second round of the playoffs, but he now has an opportunity to position himself for another title run.
Last season was West's worst from a statistical perspective since 2004-05, as the two-time All Star averaged just 7.1 points and four rebounds in 18 minutes per game behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan on the depth chart.
West could conceivably get more playing time in Golden State since it doesn't have many bigs or players of his ilk, and he would add another dimension to an already unbelievable team.
The Warriors have a lot of options at their disposal and plenty of big fish to court if they so choose, but if none of their grander plans come to fruition, the 35-year-old West is a great fallback option whose addition should make them a better and more experienced team.
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