Dubs in-depth: Potential targets for the Warriors

With Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green expect healthy and ready to go for the start of the 2020-21 season, the Golden State Warriors should be back in the NBA playoffs next year.

General manager Bob Myers needs to fill out the roster around the core with proven pieces for the team to be a true championship contender. The Dubs are hoping Andrew Wiggins can get close to the potential he showed when he was drafted first overall in 2014. If the 25-year-old can grow defensively, and make a significant contribution on the offensive end, it will go a long way in elevating the Warriors’ title chances.

Another key-decision for Myers is what to do with Golden State’s 2020 first-round pick. The Warriors are tied for the best odds to win the lottery at 14%, and are guaranteed a top-five pick.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania was on Complex’s “Load Management” podcast on Tuesday, and had this to say about what the Dubs could do with the No. 1 pick:

”They’re going to look hard at maybe packaging the pick. I don’t think they’re going to rule that out either. You’re looking at a veteran team, and there’s already some veteran free agents that are looking at the Warriors. They’re looking at them gearing up and loading back up. You have Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green back healthy. Now you’ve got Wiggins. They need a center, they need another maybe wing or guard coming off the bench, but other than that, this team is going to be geared up and loaded to go.”

There is a lot to take in here, so let’s start with Charania saying the team needs a center. Myers is reportedly not focusing on the big men available at the 2020 NBA Draft. With the $17.2 million trade exception from the Andre Iguodala deal, who can Golden State target to fill in the starting 5 spot?

Marquese Chriss and Eric Paschall appear to have at least played themselves into consideration to be a part of head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation. But, with both being young and relatively unproven, which free agent veterans could Myers target?

The salary cap will take a dip next season due to the financial fall out of the pandemic. With player salaries tied directly to league revenue, older players may have to sign one-year deals, and hope for a more lucrative contract in the summer of 2021.

Perhaps an aging big man like Paul Millsap, Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, Robin Lopez or Serge Ibaka will be willing to sign for the veteran’s minimum. Some wing players that could be had for cheap include: recent Warrior Glenn Robinson III, Kent Bazemore, Wesley Matthews and Jae Crowder.

This is a bit of a long-winded question, but let us in the comments which player you want the Dubs to realistically target with their trade exception, as well as one free agent center, and one free agent wing.

On to some more links:

The Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors aren’t going to die down anytime soon. One NBA Insider believes the Warriors are very much in the running for the Greek Freak. (h/t NBC Bay Area’s Ani Thanwalla)

With Golden State not among the 22 teams finishing out the season in Orlando, what options do the players have to get some on-court action? Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr says he supports the team holding a summer minicamp. (SF Chronicle’s Connor Letourneau)

What are the two main factors for the Dubs to bounce back next season? Myers caught up with NBC Bay Area’s Logan Murdock and shared his thoughts on how his squad can get back into contention. (h/t Dalton Johnson)

It’s obvious how much Curry and Thompson mean to the success of the Warriors. SI’s Anthony Canavaciol looks at how far Golden State can go with the Splash Brothers back next season.