The Golden State Warriors currently hold the best record in the NBA at 25-5 and are among the leaders vying for a title this season, but not everyone has them as the favorite to win it all.
Charles Barkleyis one of those people, and he wasn’t afraid togo on recordto explain his problem with Golden State. After acknowledging the Warriors to be an elite team this year led by the best backcourt in the league inStephen CurryandKlay Thompson, Barkley stated that he believes the team is still one piece away from being a legitimate championship contender.
"“I think they’re a big guy away,” Barkley said. My philosophy has always been live by the jumper, die by the jumper. I said the same thing about Oklahoma City with (Russell) Westbrook and (Kevin) Durant. They’re never going to win until they get a big guy down low to get some easy baskets. I have the same issues with the Warriors.”"
Power forwardDavid Leewas out for sometime battling a hamstring issue prior to Barkley making such comments, and some argued that all the Warriors needed was for Lee to come back and complete the lineup.
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The bench unit was in dire need of a consistent low post scorer and another rebounder to play alongside backup centersMarreese SpeightsandFestus Ezeli, and Lee fit the bill. By the time Lee had healed and worked back into the rotation, however, Bogut had suffered a knee injury, and Ezeli sustained a sprained ankle some time after.
While the loss of Ezeli hasn’t been too burdensome considering Speights has played exclusively behind Bogut since the start of season, the horrid lack of interior defense has been a problem without a defensive big man clogging the lane.
Lee has never been known as a defensive stopper, and the same goes for Speights. Primarily proficient on the offensive side of the ball, both Speights and Lee allow Golden State to play small at the cost of defensive pressure inside.
Although Lee and Speights average a combined clip of 21 points and almost 10 rebounds per game, the Warriors had taken aseven-point dropin defensive rating without Bogut, and opposing teams had been experiencing a +4.0% jump in field goal percentage since Bogut took his leave (both stats accurate prior to the team’s 40-point blowout against the Philadelphia 76ers).
Draymond Green— on impressive per game averages of 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals — has done his best at guarding opposing bigs, but standing less than 6-feet-7-inches doesn’t make him a prime candidate to go up against the league’s much bigger and better centers.
So going back to Barkley’s comment about the Warriors needing a big: Yes, the Warriors definitely need a player than can get easy buckets down in the post and deep in the paint, but what the Warriors require even more than that is a valued veteran big man who will be able to play limited minutes off the bench — an insurance policy, if you will, for theinjury-riddenAussie and his backup.
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Jermaine O’Nealcould be a possibility for the Warriors. He played a significant role backing up Bogut last season, even playing as Golden State’s starting center in the playoffs and helping the team take their lone first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers to seven games (Ezeli was out all last season recovering from knee surgery).
The 36-year-old has yet to make a decision on whetherretirement is the best optionfor him at this time, but his 7.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks would certainly be welcome in Golden State. Other teams looking at O’Neal right now are the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Dallas Mavericks and the Clippers.
Also a solid possibility —Emeka Okafor. The 32-year-old missed all of last season with aherniated diskin his lower neck, a severe injury that he opted not to have surgery on and instead go through a long, taxing rehabbing process.
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Okafor last averaged 9.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks playing with the Washington Wizards. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent and has been eyeing a2015-15 midseason returnto the NBA since August.Other than the Mavericks, which desperately need a backup center following theRajon Rondotrade that sentBrandan Wrightto the Boston Celtics, nearly half the league reportedly has their eyes on the 6-foot-10-inch center.
The Warriors have had an open roster spot ever since the teamcame to an agreementthat saw athletic point guardNemanja Nedovicreturn to the Euroleague. They originally sought to fill that spot with free agent sharpshooterRay Allen, who reportedly is nowleaning towards retirement.
Despite Bogut and Ezeli being seen at the team’s most recent practice putting up shots, there is currentlyno timetablefor either to return.
Next: Ray Allen Unlikely To Join Warriors
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