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NBA free agency: Golden State Warriors targeting Horford, Noah, Batum, etc.

By John Buhler

Feb 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) is fouled by Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hawks 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) is fouled by Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hawks 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Golden State Warriors have several players they’ll target if they can’t land Kevin Durant: Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Nicolas Batum, and Hassan Whiteside.

It’s no secret that the Golden State Warriors are one of the few teams in the NBA that can conceivably pry Kevin Durant away from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 NBA free agency. Should the Warriors fail in their endeavors to land Durant, Golden State general manager Bob Myers has his eyes on five other players that can also improve his team entering next season.

According to Marcus Thompson of the San José Mercury News, “the Warriors are looking at Al Horford, Joakim Noah, and even Hassan Whiteside.” Thompson would add that “free agents Nicolas Batum and Evan Turner are among the players being considered at small forward…if the Warriors don’t get Kevin Durant.”

What the emergence of these five free agents targets mean for the Warriors is that the club anticipates losing several key free agents this summer including small forward Harrison Barnes, center Andrew Bogut, small forward Andre Iguodala, and center Festus Ezeli.

Horford would be a great replacement at center should Bogut leave, as Horford has developed into a strong shooter from distance over the last few years with the Atlanta Hawks. The Chicago Bulls’ Noah could provide the necessary rim protection Golden State would lose in a departing Bogut. He’s also a major upgrade coming off the bench in favor of an erratic Ezeli. As for Whiteside of the Miami Heat, he’s still raw, but can be an interesting defensive presence for Golden State at the very least going forward.

From the way that Thompson phrased how the Warriors will go about handling small forward in free agency should they not be able to get Durant, it would seem that the Warriors’ organization isn’t going to match Barnes’ highest offer in restricted free agency.

Batum might be the next highest paid small forward in free agency this summer behind only Durant. He’s coming off a bounce-back year with the Charlotte Hornets and plays at a premium position at small forward. The Boston Celtics’ Turner could be an interesting bench player, but it’s hard to see the streaky shooter functioning in head coach Steve Kerr’s three-ball centric offense.

For more NBA free agency news, please check out our NBA free agency category page.

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