The Golden State Warriors made a huge uproar in the free agent market as they filled up their roster spots within a matter of days. After resolving the long-term trade dispute with Jonathan Kuminga, they signed Al Horford to pair a true stretch-five with Stephen Curry for the first time. But it looks like they aren’t all in on Horford carrying the baton. Reports suggest the Warriors are actively looking at other options at center.
“Bam Adebayo is another All-Star in the East who would be at the top of the Warriors’ list of potential trade targets if he were to ever request a trade from the Miami Heat, sources said.” NBA Insider Brett Siegel reported.
Adebayo would be a much younger and versatile player and a better fit for the Warriors since they already have a lot of experience and veteran power; what they need right now is a hungry young talent who is fired up to win it all. He will also be reuniting with old Miami Heat teammate Jimmy Butler, and they both have a gritty, old-school style of playing. But a situation where he asks for a trade looks highly unlikely given he’s the Heat’s biggest star right now and will continue to be a franchise-favorite.
One massive motivation to come to the Bay Area would be a real shot at the Championship. The Heat have come close in recent years with Adebayo at the center, but they’ve not had a Curry-like generational talent to put them over the hump. Adebayo could get attracted to the glitz and glamour of the Golden State’s dynastic outlook. But outside that, he’s looked happy in Miami.
Even though they both have similar defensive stats, Adebayo’s ability to play high minutes puts him in a league of his own. Last season, he averaged 34 minutes per game. One could argue that Horford brings spacing, shooting, and mentorship, but he cannot match the rigor with which the 28-year-old center can play both sides.
The difference in their production is startling. Adebayo averaged 18.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists last season. Whereas Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, while playing 18 fewer games than Adebayo. He signed a five-year, $163 million contract that runs through 2025-26. And recent reports suggest that the Miami Heat are looking to offer him another three-year extension to keep him in the Eastern Conference for the foreseeable future.
His salary cap hit also rises with each year. So last year his cap hit was $34.8 million, and it will be more than that this year. The Warriors, on the other hand, have serious cap space issues. So, if they were to trade for the 28-year-old center, they would have to make an incredible offer while also offloading big players from the salary cap space.
Horford came in at a two-year, $11 million deal that fits perfectly for the Warriors, when it comes to roster building and saving cap space. But whether he’ll be the solution for their championship bid remains a big question mark.
