Charlotte Hornets: Golden State Warriors to target in NBA free agency

As a part of our series detailing which players the Charlotte Hornets should target in NBA free agency, our attention shifts to the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors finished with a 53-29 record, which earned them a 3rd-place finish in the Western Conference.

Making their sixth NBA Finals in eight tries, the Golden State dynasty is back and better than ever. With Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green at the center of their undying core, the W’s have been the best team (when fully healthy) in the NBA for quite some time. With a smorgasbord of players hitting free agency, the time has come for the Hornets to try and snag a Warrior or two in the offseason.

For the restricted free agents, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Quinndary Weatherspoon provide literal big-name appeal without possessing big-name talent. JTA has been in and out of Steve Kerr’s rotation all season, and Weatherspoon could never crack the impressive nightly squad. In short, neither is a priority for Charlotte.

Andre Iguodala, Kevon Looney, Otto Porter, Gary Payton II, Nemanja Bjelica, Damion Lee, and Chris Chiozza are all set to hit the unrestricted free agent market in 2022. Unlike the Celtics, this is what usually happens to a team that makes the NBA Finals. A number of their players will enter free agency and depart in the following offseason.

For Iguodala, Lee, and Chiozza, the Hornets should not seriously consider any of these three. Iguodala is entering the “why aren’t you retired” portion of his career and Lee and Chiozza are not nightly rotation players.

Porter and Bjelica could make their way to Charlotte. Porter can provide some 3-and-D help, while Bjelica can provide elite shooting and playmaking from a stretch-four or small-ball five spot. Either way, these two could fit in with the Hornets’ current scheme perfectly.

Looney and Payton are the real draw for the Hornets, however. As a defensive, low-usage big, Looney can fill the Mason Plumlee role excellently. He provides slightly better shooting, defense, and rebounding than Plumlee at his point in their careers and should be a must-target if a big-name center cannot be lured to Charlotte.

On the other hand, Payton is an ideal fit in Charlotte. As a defensive juggernaut, he could provide superb bench minutes and spot-starts for the Hornets. Paired with LaMelo Ball on the perimeter, Payton could be a lob threat, a transition go-to, and a steals leader for the Hornets.

Overall, there is a reason the W’s are back in the Finals. They have a loaded roster of tremendous talent. With so many players entering free agency, some are bound to leave. Why should they not come down to Charlotte? The Hornets have a young core, a new coaching staff, and a fun energy to be around!