With free agency officially starting on July 1st, all news and rumors have been almost non-existent. While free agents can’t officially sign with teams until July 8th, they can still agree to the terms of the contract with any NBA team, so expect a lot of movement on the first of the month. The Warriors might not have a lot of cap space to work with, but they might be able to snatch a good free agent or two.
While the Warriors already have one of the more talented rosters in the NBA, they can still improve and it never hurts to add some size. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com, the Warriors will pursue center/power forward Pau Gasol:
ESPN reported Friday that the New York Knicks are preparing to make a run at the 7-foot Spaniard, who thrived in new Knicks president Phil Jackson’s triangle offense in L.A. The Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are also expected to pursue Gasol in free agency, sources said.
The addition of Gasol would make the Warriors more dynamic offensively. Gasol has the ability to spread the floor and he’s a great passer, which could lead to some good open looks for the Warriors. Gasol can run the floor pretty effectively and has a good jump-shot, which could help a Warriors’ offense that depended heavily on Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
Gasol has spent the last seven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and has solidified himself as one of the best big men in the league during that time. There is no secret that Gasol is older and not the same player he once was, but he is still capable of being a very productive player. The Lakers have interest in re-signing him, but Gasol might want to make another run at the NBA title and the Warriors are one of the few teams that could offer him that.