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The Golden State Warriors still have plenty of time before they need to decide how to fill out the roster around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
The NBA playoffs should wrap up in by the middle of October, so Dubs general manager Bob Myers will need to figure out which players he wants to target via trade or free agency.
One player who Myers could look at trading for this offseason is Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, who seems to be the ideal fit with the Warriors. Smart is a great defender who can come in off the bench and provide the Dubs with a spark on a nightly basis.
But, NBC Sports’ NBA Insider Tom Haberstroh believes Smart will not be on the market before the 2020-21 season:
“The issue is, why would Boston give him up? They are trying to win a championship too, so I don’t see Boston Celtics giving up Marcus Smart because he fills a lot of the same needs that the Warriors would want in a player like that.”
Golden State could focus its attention on acquiring a proven big man with the $17.2 million trade exception it has from the Andrew Iguodala deal.
Haberstroh added that Myers should add another defensive guard through free agency, specifically mentioning Kris Dunn of the Chicago Bulls.
“At this point, I think it is better suited for the Warriors to focus their energy on a guy like Kris Dunn in Chicago. Another guy who is a wing defender, he’s 26 years old and I think could come at a lot cheaper price than Marcus Smart.”
Dunn is 6’3 and can be had for relatively cheap in free agency. Haberstroh thinks the Bulls will pass on Dunn’s $7 million qualifying offer, and with the economic fallout of the pandemic expected to leave the NBA’s salary cap flat for next season, Dunn could sign a short-term deal.
The good news is that Dunn will bring a high-end defensive option. The point guard was second on Chicago with a 103.6 defensive rating. The Bulls gave up 6.8 fewer points per 100 possessions with Dunn on the floor.
One of the significant issues with Dunn is his shooting. He shot just 25.9% from the 3-point line last season and hit only 27.9% of his corner 3-ball attempts. The good news is that Dunn can create for his teammates. His 28.5 assist ratio was second on Chicago, while his assist-to-turnover ratio came in at 2.54.
Dunn wouldn’t be a major piece of the Warriors’ puzzle, but could undoubtedly be an impactful rotational player. If Myers can convince him to join the Dubs on a cheap deal without sacrificing the second overall pick at the 2020 NBA Draft, it will give Golden State’s defense a boost, while still keeping a significant asset.
What do you think about chasing Dunn in free agency? Would you rather that Myers pursues a player like Dunn if it means keeping the No. 2 pick? Or would you prefer trading it for Smart?