Warriors: 3 free agent centers to target in the offseason

3. Tristan Thompson

The Warriors know Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson well. After all, the Warriors and Cavaliers met in four consecutive NBA Finals.

Earlier in his career, Thompson scored a lucrative five-year, $82 million contract extension. That contract may have prevented the Cavaliers from upgrading their roster in other areas while LeBron James was on the team, but it is set to expire this summer.

The 29-year-old fills the role of a traditional center and can carry a heavy workload. However, he is not a versatile or quality defender and does not improve the team’s ball movement.

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These are clearly flaws that may prevent the Warriors from even having interest in the 6-foot-9 center. Though they need more depth at the position, and this might be one of the few options that fits their budget.

With all this being said, the University of Texas product can be a productive player when on the floor. This season, Thompson has notched 12 PPG and 10.1 RPG while shooting 51 percent from the field.

As a team, the Warriors need to see improvement in their rebounding prowess. On the year, the team averages 42.8 RPG, which ranks 23rd in the NBA.

Of course, Thompson brings plenty of baggage off of the court. The Warriors would need to weigh this against any value he could bring onto the court.

Golden State may convince itself that the team’s chemistry and culture are strong enough to withstand any off-the-court baggage.

Thompson may be worth the second chance.

Given the lack of predictability with the Warriors duo of centers consisting of Chriss and Looney, the team needs to add to its depth and Thompson may be one of the better options available that Golden State can afford.