NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Golden State Warriors

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 31: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers controls the ball against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

4 of 6

OAKLAND, CA – MAY 22: Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 22, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Trevor Ariza

A long wing who has established himself as one of the best spot-up shooters in the league, Trevor Ariza would give the Warriors some much needed depth in the backcourt.

Ariza has plenty of experience being on star-studded teams — he won a championship with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in Los Angeles and came close to upsetting the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals with James Harden and Chris Paul in Houston — so playing alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green wouldn’t be a tough transition for him.

Other than a paycut, the biggest sacrifice Ariza would have to make in going to Golden State would be giving up his spot in the starting lineup, though he spent the first five years of his NBA career coming off the bench. For an opportunity to compete for multiple championships as he enters his mid-30s, Ariza might be content with going back to the role he began his career in.

Signing Ariza would also take an important piece away from Golden State’s biggest competition in the Western Conference. The Rockets will still have the starpower to compete with the Warriors if they re-sign Chris Paul, but Ariza has been a huge part of their success on both ends of the floor. Lose him to the Warriors, and the Rockets might struggle to find a replacement at small forward.

Home/Golden State Warriors