Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr outlines three superior agents who the Warriors may sign.
With Klay Thompson and Chris Paul’s contracts off the books, the Golden State Warriors have financial freedom this offseason to explore the free agent market.
Free agency has calmed since it began on June 30, but there is still much anticipation that the Warriors will make a significant move. Until then, Golden State had 14 roster spots filled with guaranteed contracts (excluding second-round selection Quentin Post).
Let’s look at the Warriors’ three key free-agent acquisitions and the better choices that GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. should have made instead. (Two of the players took cheaper contracts elsewhere.)
Warriors signed (via sign-and-trade) former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson to a three-year, $27 million contract, with the third year not guaranteed.
… but should have signed: New Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith, who agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal.
Anderson joins the Warriors as a shrewd, versatile veteran who provides a strong defensive presence and a high basketball IQ, as well as stature (6-foot-9) and length (7-foot-3 wingspan). They also sign a player who will shortly turn 31 and is nicknamed “Slo Mo” due to his lack of quickness.
Anderson isn’t known for his offensive skills, either, shooting only 22.9% from deep last season and averaging 6.4 points.
Smith, who stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 215 pounds, has a wingspan of 7-foot-2 and will not turn 25 until March. The former 10th overall selection of the Phoenix Suns had a breakout season with Indiana in 2023-24, scoring 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in just 17.2 minutes per game while shooting an amazing 42.4% from deep.
The Warriors signed De’Anthony Melton, a former Philadelphia 76ers point guard, to a one-year, $12.8 million contract
… but should have signed: Phoenix Suns guard/forward Josh Okogie, who agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract, with the second season not guaranteed.
Melton, a defensive mainstay, was likely available on a one-year deal after missing 44 games last season due to back problems. He has a lifetime three-point shooting percentage of 36.9% and averaged 11.1 points last season.
Melton, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds, has nearly the same physical dimensions as Stephen Curry, therefore the two of them sharing a backcourt indicates an average height of little above 6-foot-2. Yes, size is still important in the NBA.
Okogie, recognized as a superb chemistry man, is a defensive threat. And Warriors fans are all too acquainted with him, as he hit an amazing 77.8% from deep in their four games against each other (the Suns won three of those four).
The Warriors signed Buddy Hield, a former Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard, to a four-year, $37.4 million contract, with the first two years guaranteed.
Saddiq Bey, the new Washington Wizards forward, has agreed to a three-year, $20 million agreement.
Hield is expected to replace Thompson’s outside output, despite shooting 38.6% from deep last season, which was lower than his career 40% average. Hield isn’t recognized for his defense and will turn 32 in December.
Hield’s wing position is likewise crowded, with Curry, Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II, Moses Moody, Lindy Waters III, Pat Spencer, Daeqwon Plowden, and Reece Beekman all competing for minutes. Adding Bey would have relieved some of the burden, but he won’t be able to play right away as he heals from an ACL rupture sustained in March.
Bey, who is 6-foot-7, provides the Warriors with much-needed size. He also averaged 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds last season while failing from deep (31.6%, much behind his career average of 35.2%).
