Golden State Warriors: How can the team replace Kevin Durant’s impact?
4. Rim-protection
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Over the course of his three seasons with the Warriors, Durant averaged 1.5 blocks per game. Last season he averaged 1.1 blocks per game, putting him at 35th in the league.
However, amongst players who play SF/PF like Durant, he was fifth in the league, behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo, Robert Covington, Jonathan Isaac, and Jerami Grant. Of the players above him, only Antetokounmpo is even close to being on his level offensively too.
The only way to replace his rim protection is really by having quick-footed big men with length. Luckily the Warriors actually have quite a lot of them.
Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, and Omari Spellman are all similar defensively in that they are strong, long, and quick enough to defend perimeter players.
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Green and Looney provided that defensive ability last year, but they’ll hope that Spellman will be able to step up and provide that defensive versatility too.