The Golden State Warriors are coming off a season that ended in disappointment, but also showed signs of promise. It was a year of peaks and valleys for the Warriors this season. They came out of the gate scorching hot, compiling a 12-3 record through their first 15. Then came their first valley.
By mid-January, 12-3 became 19-20, and the Warriors found themselves as the No. 12 seed in the Western Conference. Desperate not to let the season go to waste, Mike Dunleavy Jr. executed a blockbuster trade that landed Jimmy Butler with the Warriors in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson to the Miami Heat as part of a five-team trade.
Jimmy Butler
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) drives to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) plays defense.
© Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Warriors cool off pursuit of previously linked trade target
Butler was a seamless fit and helped the Warriors to a 23-7 record with him. The Warriors won their NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Grizzlies and then defeated the Houston Rockets in seven games. Hopes of a championship were seemingly dashed when Curry left with a hamstring injury in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They ultimately fell 4-1 in the series.
One thing that both the Rockets and Timberwolves had success with against the Warriors was when they would throw a lineup that featured two big men. As a result, many speculate the Warriors will look to add a big of their own this summer.
Forbes NBA writer Evan Sidery provided an update regarding their search for a center.
"The Bulls are openly shopping Nikola Vucevic in trade talks, per [Bulls Insider K.C. Johnson]," wrote Sidery. "After previous interest in Vucevic this season, the Warriors have cooled on the idea of a potential pursuit."
The Warriors will still have options at pursuing a center this season, and perhaps the update is for the best. While Vucevic would've been a great fit offensively with his ability to shoot from 3-point land, he's far from a feared rim protector.
The free agent market for centers includes names like Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, and Myles Turner. While the Warriors might not want to add more aging veterans, they all have big-game experience. Lopez and Turner have NBA Finals experience, and Capela has played in a Western Conference Finals. Look for the Warriors to stay active this summer.