The Warriors are busy coming up with a contingency plan if they are unable to lure Kevin Durant to town.
ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reports that plan involves keeping Harrison Barnes, while also zeroing in on several different big men: Pau Gasol, David West, Joakim Noah and Timofey Mozgov.
It’s unclear if this means the team would try and trade Andrew Bogut and his $16.6 million cap hit for the 2016-17 season. Festus Ezeli is a restricted free agent and there hasn’t been much on the rumor mill about whether he will be back in a Warriors jersey next season. His fate in Golden State appeared to take a blow when the team drafted Vanderbilt center Damian Jones in the first round last week.
Gasol, 35, is the interesting name to monitor. The Spurs reportedly will make him their priority this offseason.
Remember, the Warriors also have to plan for next summer. Steph Curry will hit the free agency market and the Warriors will need a maximum contract ready to go.