Warriors: Marc Gasol is an ideal 2020 free agent target

The Golden State Warriors would be wise to target veteran center Marc Gasol in free agency.

The Golden State Warriors are set to face what will be a crucial offseason for the team following a disastrous 15-50 season. And one player who could make for an interesting offseason addition is veteran center Marc Gasol.

The 2020 NBA offseason is going to be an offseason unlike any other before. The ongoing worldwide pandemic has already delayed an offseason that would have already started now to the fall and it’s unclear exactly what the state of the world will be then.

Either way, it’s safe to say that teams shouldn’t be preparing for a typical draft and free-agency period. And for the Warriors, a team that will be relying on this offseason more than most, that’s a major blow.

Golden State will have limited resources to improve the team in the offseason, but the expected shrinkage of the salary cap will put most teams in the same boat. The Warriors were already going to be a tax-paying team next season — that fact hasn’t changed.

So even though adding players in free agency won’t be easy for the team, the team’s owners have already stated that they aren’t afraid to spend in order to compete — a fact that should surprise absolutely no one.

The aforementioned Gasol could be an ideal target.

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The Warriors would be wise to target Marc Gasol in the offseason.

Gasol’s name has been mentioned in connection with the Warriors a few times over the past month or so and it makes sense for numerous reasons.

While the Warriors desperately need wing depth, they could also use an athletic big man who provides an outside shooting threat at the five. None of the team’s center options offer much in the way of floor spacing.

Marquese Chriss impressed this past season, but it’s unclear if the Warriors view him as a true starting option. Meanwhile, Kevon Looney‘s future is in doubt due to countless injury issues.

Gasol would provide the Warriors with a veteran, experienced center option who can offer excellent floor spacing on offense. In many ways, he’d be a perfect fit for Steve Kerr‘s system.

And at least one source agrees as Dan Favale of Bleacher Report recently named Gasol an “ambitious free-agent target” for the Warriors. Favale had the following to say about the potential pairing.

"“Golden State isn’t apt to play Draymond Green at center full-time, Kevon Looney has dealt with a bunch of serious injuries this year, and it isn’t yet known how much Marquese Chriss does for a could-be contender. Gasol would add sweet post- and face-up passing, floor spacing the Warriors don’t have at the 5 spot anymore and a big body to rumble and tumble with fellow big bodies on defense.”"

Of course, convincing Gasol to take what will likely be a less lucrative offer to come to Golden State might be challenging. But this is the Warriors we’re talking about, and despite their awful season, they still have a reputation around the league.

Players want to play for the Warriors and Golden State will have to count on that discount in order to sway Gasol away from returning to the Toronto Raptors or going elsewhere in the offseason.

Either way, it certainly never hurts to give it a try.