The Warriors are thin in the frontcourt right now, with just Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell at center. It's also unclear when All-Star DeMarcus Cousins will return to game action, and even if he finally plays for Golden State and is effective, the team still would need another big body.
The Warriors have an open 15th roster spot (which has been by design all along) and can make something happen, should an opportunity arise.
"If something presented itself now or in the next few days, we'd look at it," Warriors GM Bob Myers told reporters on a conference call Monday. "More than likely, it'll come later, maybe in the form of a buyout or trade."
The NBA trade deadline isn't until Feb. 7, but a buyout could happen at any time, and teams can sign players to 10-day contracts starting Jan. 5. When the Warriors add another big man also might depend on how Cousins looks when he makes his debut, although there's no timeline for that.
For now, let's look at some of the big men who might interest the Warriors, in no particular order. Keep in mind that this is a very preliminary list, and I'm just an outsider with zero inside information ...
Robin Lopez
The Chicago Bulls center, who has been relegated to the bench in his 11th NBA season, has been mentioned by several publications as a perfect fit for the Warriors. He's making $14.4 million this season, though, so it's safe to assume they will not trade for the Stanford product (and my former teammate).
Sports
The only way the 7-footer would end up in the Bay Area is if he and the Bulls agree to a buyout. Warriors coach Steve Kerr knows Lopez well, as he drafted him 15th overall when he was the Phoenix Suns' GM in 2008.
Dewayne Dedmon
The 29-year old is averaging 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks this season, as he has started 17 games for the Atlanta Hawks and averaged 24.2 minutes per night. There has been zero indictation that a buyout is in the works, as he's making just $6.3 million this season, but Dedmon will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Hawks clearly are in tank mode.
Also, Hawks GM Travis Schlenk used to be the Warriors' assistant GM, so you never know ...
Zach Randolph
The 37-year-old hasn't appeared in a single game for the Kings this season. He's making $11.7 million, so like Lopez, only would be an option for the Warriors through a buyout. That's most likely at least five weeks away, as the Kings might be able to package Z-Bo in a trade.
Randolph, Cousins and Draymond Green on the same team would be, um, wild.
Skal Labissiere
Another Kings big man, the 22-year-old has seen action in just 10 games so far this season. The Kings picked up his 2019-20 option, so the Warriors might not want to pay him $2.3 million next season. But he's still young and showed some flashes in his first two NBA seasons, so perhaps he's worth a second-round draft pick in a trade?
Kosta Koufos
Yet another Kings big man! He's making too much money ($8.7 million) to acquire via trade, but if things go south for Sacramento, it might look to save some money with a buyout and let the 29-year old sign with a contender.
Amir Johnson
The 31-year old made just his second start of the season Saturday night in Portland, but only because Joel Embiid didn't suit up. Johnson is averaging just 9.4 minutes per game, but the 76ers probably won't part ways with him because they need him as Embiid insurance. He's making the veteran's minimum, which makes him more attainable.
Deyonta Davis
He plays for the G League Santa Cruz Warriors, and on Saturday night against the Northern Arizona Suns, he scored a season-high 21 points, to go with eight rebounds and two blocks. So, the Warriors easily could add him on a 10-day contract.
The 22-year old was selected 31st overall by the Boston Celtics in 2016, then quickly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, with whom he averaged 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 62 games last season. He was traded to the Kings in July, then waived in September.
Cameron Oliver
The 22-year-old was born in Oakland and went to Grant Union High School in Sacramento. He went undrafted in 2017 after two seasons at Nevada, and currently plays for the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League, for whom he's averaging 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while shooting just below 60 percent from the field.
It's surprising (or a red flag?) that Oliver isn't even on a two-way contract, so he'd basically be just a 10-day contract option for the Warriors.
