2011 NBA: Golden State Warriors Bolster Bench, Sign Al Thornton

The NBA buyout period can be quite the enigma, full of media-manufactured drama and hype for undeserving players. The league's best teams engage in bidding wars for players the caliber of Troy Murphy, Mike Bibby and Rasual Butler.

It's sort of like the captains of the high school football, baseball and basketball teams fighting for the chance to secure a prom date with the co-captain of the flag corps days before the dance.

Most players seeking to be bought out hope to leave their losing team to chase a chance at a ring. Most teams seeking these players feel like they are one piece away from title contention.

In this case, neither the player (Thornton) nor the team (Golden State) fits the bill. Why then does Thornton want to head west to a team only marginally better than the one he's leaving? And further, why do the Warriors want to add a player for these last 22 games?

For Thornton, Golden State offers a chance to play. His former team (the Washington Wizards) are as deep at the small forward position as the Warriors are thin. He'll go from competing with Rashard Lewis, Maurice Evans and Josh Howard to presumably stepping in as the primary backup small forward.

The Warriors have not had a true backup small forward since the team released journeyman Rodney Carney in early January, with his minutes divided between an undersized shooting guard (Reggie Williams) and a perimeter-oriented power forward (Vladimir Radmanovic).

With Thornton's contract expiring at the end of the season, the Warriors would seem to be the ideal fit for the former Florida State Seminole to showcase his skills and earn a contract over the summer.

But why would the Warriors choose to play the role of casting agent for Thornton's audition? Well, there are a few reasons.

First off, the Warriors are technically still in playoff contention. With 22 games remaining on their schedule, the Warriors will face an uphill battle in their effort to make up their six-game (leapfrogging four teams in the process, no less) deficit in the race for eighth in the Western Conference.

Second, Thornton's addition could provide some much needed rest for the Warriors regulars. The team has No. 1 (Monta Ellis) and No. 6 (Dorell Wright) in minutes per game, and having an extra perimeter option (especially one with a 6'8", 235-pound frame) should allow Smart to find a healthier balance for his starters' minutes.

Third, Thornton could prove to be more than simply a month-and-a-half rental. The Warriors had the chance to add a player who was a lottery pick in 2007 (14th selection by the Los Angeles Clippers) at a discounted rate (no figures released, but thought to be around $200,000).

Thornton is just two seasons removed from averaging 16.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. Even in what his been statistically his worst season as a pro (career lows in points, rebounds and minutes), he still has just one fewer 20-point outings (four) than the entire Warriors second unit (all five by Reggie Williams).

Lastly, the addition gives the Warriors some options heading into the offseason for their perimeter players on the second unit.

Williams, like Thornton, is in the final year of his deal and the chance to watch both players on a nightly basis will give General Manager Larry Riley a better idea of whether either player or even both deserve a spot next season.