Dubs in-depth: Should the Warriors target Rudy Gay with their TPE?

With the NBA offseason beginning next month, the Golden State Warriors are trying to figure out how to round out the roster to get back into championship contention next season.

General manager Bob Myers has the No. 2 pick at the 2020 NBA Draft, along with the all-important $17.2 million trade exception from the Andre Iguodala deal. We have looked at a few options before, including Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and Myles Turner.

Looking at how much size the Los Angeles Lakers had en route to an NBA title, the need to get bigger is obvious. The Dubs currently have Kevon Looney and Marquese Chriss on the roster, but Myers doesn’t need to use the TPE on a big man. Golden State could add a prospect like James Wiseman or Onyeka Okongwu at the draft and pick up a veteran player to bolster the bench with the trade exception.

We know that Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins will take up four out of the five starting spots next year, but does Myers need to find a potential big man to round out the lineup?

The Warriors could either look at acquiring a big forward and move Green to the 5, instead of finding a traditional center. One solution if they elect to go this route is Rudy Gay of the San Antonio Spurs.

Gay has one year left and is due $16.2 million next season. Because Gay has an expiring contract, this could open up Myers’ options during the season. According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, Golden State could flip Gay before the 2020-21 trade deadline for a player making up to $20 million.

This would enable the Warriors to either draft a young 5, or sign a veteran like Marc Gasol in free agency while adding some much-needed scoring punch to the bench.

Even at his age, Gay was one of San Antonio’s better team defenders this season. He had the best defensive rating on the team of any player who played in at least 20 games at 108.1. The Spurs gave up 5.6 fewer points per 100 possessions with Gay on the floor than they did when he was on the bench.

Gay shot a respectable 33.6% from beyond-the-arc and would space the floor for the Dubs’ dynamic offense.

Gay’s best days are behind him, but the potential to move his expiring deal for another piece during the season is tempting. The Lakers added a bunch of cheap veterans to their bench to help win a championship. Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all had their moments in the bubble. Golden State did the same during its historic five-year run by signing players like David West to low-cost deals.

What do you think of Gay’s potential fit with the Warriors?

On to some links:

At this point, the Dubs have been linked to virtually every potential top-five pick at the 2020 NBA Draft. The Athletic’s Ethan Strauss looks at how Wiseman would fill some of Golden State’s needs.

Silly season is bringing a ton of trades to the forefront. Fansided’s Duncan Smith looks at a potential three-team deal that would see the Warriors end up with Turner.

Shannon Sharpe is entertaining on Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed. Check out his reaction to what it means for the Lakers if the Dubs land Bradley Beal. (Yahoo Sports)