<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-warriors-celtics-among-several-al-horford-suitors-in-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Warriors, Celtics among several Al Horford suitors in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Warriors-Stephen-Curry-dribbles-vs.-Celtics-Al-Horford.jpg"><figcaption>© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Warriors, Celtics among several Al Horford suitors in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T20:42:44-07:00">June 30th, 8:42pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T20:42:44-07:00">June 30th, 8:42pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The first day of free agency has brought forth plenty of player movement, with teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies being among the busiest. To teams already above the salary cap, moving in free agency isn’t quite as easy, as they have to maneuver smartly to stay below the relevant tax apron. For the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, this very much rings true — with the former having to let <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-orleans-pelicans/pelicans-news-new-orleans-signs-3-time-nba-champion-warriors-free-agency">Kevon Looney go to the New Orleans Pelicans</a> and the latter having to resort to a low-cost flier in Luka Garza.</p><p>Both the Warriors and Celtics have plenty of question marks in the frontcourt, although they are looking to rectify those issues by setting their sights on the same player. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the 2022 NBA Finalists are <a href="https://x.com/MikeAScotto/status/1939855484036505990" rel="noopener">among the many</a> contending teams that are looking to get veteran big man Al Horford to sign on the dotted line.</p><p>Included in the hunt for Horford are the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers, as per Scotto. It’s not quite clear just how strong those teams’ interest level is in signing the 39-year-old big man from the Dominican Republic, but one thing’s for sure, both the Warriors and Celtics will be facing stiff competition for Horford’s services.</p><p>It’s not quite clear what kind of contract Horford is commanding in free agency, although it’s safe to say that he should not break the bank too much and should not cost more than the $9.5 million he made this past season. This makes him a low-cost option for any team looking to reinforce their frontcourt with the defense and shooting that Horford provides.</p><p>Alas, with Horford having recently turned 39 years of age, there is real risk in him declining as soon as next season hits.</p><h2>Will Al Horford sign with the Warriors?</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Al-Horford-of-the-Boston-Celtics.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-rumors-al-horford-emerges-as-dubs-preferred-target-in-free-agency">Warriors may be the most desperate team for Horford</a> after they lost Looney in free agency; ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported that the Dubs are <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1939826986232553634" rel="noopener">“locked in</a> on getting to an agreement” with Horford after the events of free agency’s first day.</p><p>Alas, the Lakers may be as desperate, seeing as they haven’t quite remedied their center issues yet (although they seem to be saving their money for Deandre Ayton). The Nuggets would also want a reliable backup for Nikola Jokic, and Horford fits the bill. Meanwhile, the center position isn’t as pressing of a need for either the Knicks and Cavs.</p><p>The smart money is banking on Horford to return to the Celtics even if it’s unlikely for Boston to contend for a championship this upcoming season amid the injury to Jayson Tatum. Horford’s been at his best this past decade whenever he’s in Beantown, and suffice to say, this place has become home for him. And now that he has won a championship anyway, it’s not like he’ll be desperate to chase another ring.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Warriors, Celtics among several Al Horford suitors in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-orleans-pelicans/pelicans-news-new-orleans-signs-3-time-nba-champion-warriors-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans sign 3-time NBA champion from Warriors in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kevon-Looney.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pelicans sign 3-time NBA champion from Warriors in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T17:01:29-07:00">June 30th, 5:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T17:01:29-07:00">June 30th, 5:01pm</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-orleans-pelicans/nba-rumors-pelicans-looming-as-another-potential-jonathan-kuminga-suitor">New Orleans Pelicans managed to find</a> a new center on Monday, with NBA free agency officially open. It appears the club has acquired a former three-time champion who has played for the Golden State Warriors throughout his career.</p><p>Reports indicate that Kevon Looney, who is 29 years old, <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1939825943314657677" rel="noopener">will be signing</a> with the Pelicans on a two-year, $16 million deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Looney leaves the Warriors after playing for the club for 10 seasons.</p><p>“Free agent center Kevon Looney has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN. Life Sports Agency CEO Todd Ramasar and the Pelicans reached a deal tonight for the three-time NBA champion who departs Golden State after 10 years.”</p><p>Looney may have a chance to play a big role in New Orleans. It’s more likely he’ll be a backup option to Yves Missi, who displayed solid potential in his rookie season. But it’s a situation that allows Looney to play a rotational role for a Pelicans team that needed depth at the center position.</p><p>The veteran center played 76 games for the Warriors last season, making him an incredibly durable player in the league. The Pelicans will hope he brings that durability to the roster. He ended the 2024-25 campaign averaging 4.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 51.4% from the field and 40.0% from the three-point line.</p><p>This will be the first time in Looney’s career in which he’ll play for a team that isn’t the Warriors. Expect him to bring plenty of experience to the table for a Pelicans team that is still rebuilding.</p><p>Looney isn’t the only big man New Orleans has acquired this offseason. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-orleans-pelicans/pelicans-news-derik-queen-sends-warning-amid-nba-draft-criticism">Pelicans traded for Derik Queen</a> out of Maryland immediately after he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 13 overall pick. So, New Orleans will have plenty of size down low for next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans sign 3-time NBA champion from Warriors in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/nba-rumors-lakers-expected-to-show-interest-in-ex-warriors-guard');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rumor: Lakers expected to show interest in ex-Warriors guard');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DeAnthony-Melton-8-is-pictured-against-the-Portland-Trailblazers.jpg"><figcaption>© Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Rumor: Lakers expected to show interest in ex-Warriors guard</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T14:29:47-07:00">June 30th, 2:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T14:31:44-07:00">June 30th, 2:31pm</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-James Harden era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his free time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter and Instagram for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers are bracing for a major offseason for the franchise. Following LeBron James’ decision to opt into the final year of his deal for the 2025-26 season, the Lakers could pursue a former player for their division rival.</p><p>Golden State Warriors free agent guard De’Anthony Melton will have a lot of interested suitors when freea gency opens up Monday evening at 3PM PST.</p><h2><b>Lakers expected to show interest in ex-Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton</b></h2><p>De’Anthony Melton was a big addition to the Golden State Warriors heading into the 2024-25 season, but only played six games after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee.</p><p>In those six games, Melton averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes per game. The guard also shot 37.1 percent from three in the small handful of games, but has been a career 37 percent three point shooter</p><p>According to NBA insider Marc Stein, <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-absolute-latest-nba-free-agency" rel="noopener">the Lakers are expected to show interest</a> in De’Anthony Melton when free agency begins on Monday evening.</p><blockquote>If the Lakers lose Finney-Smith, they are expected to show interest in De’Anthony Melton, who was only able to play in six games last season with Golden State due to an ACL tear and was traded by the Warriors in December to Brooklyn for Dennis Schröder.</blockquote><p>Lakers beat writer for the Athletic Dan Woike reported similar whispers around <a href="https://x.com/DanWoikeSports/status/1939776484887195904" rel="noopener">Melton and interest from the Lakers</a>.</p><p>Melton has been a strong role player for the teams he’s played for over the last few years, but has unfortunately not been able to stay off the injury report. The Sixers guard only played 38 games for the Sixers in the 2023-24 season and just six last season for the Warriors. Still, when he’s available, Melton has been a strong piece for his respective teams.</p><p>Despite playing only 194 of a possible 328 games over his last four regular seasons, Melton has averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 steals in 25.5 minutes per game while shooting 37.7 percent from three.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rumor: Lakers expected to show interest in ex-Warriors guard

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-rumors-al-horford-emerges-as-dubs-preferred-target-in-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Warriors rumors: Al Horford emerges as Dubs’ ‘preferred target’ in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Al-Horford-gets-loose-in-warmups.jpg"><figcaption>Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Warriors rumors: Al Horford emerges as Dubs’ ‘preferred target’ in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T13:28:28-07:00">June 30th, 1:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T13:29:40-07:00">June 30th, 1:29pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>NBA fans are understandably preoccupied with the madness that could potentially ensue in the Eastern Conference next season, but the Western Conference could be quite unpredictable as well. While the Oklahoma City Thunder are certainly the team to beat after winning their first championship this year, the chase to become their biggest adversary is quite fascinating. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-draymond-green-shares-opinion-kevin-durant-trade-rockets">The Houston Rockets added Kevin Durant</a>, the Dallas Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg and the Minnesota Timberwolves retained a big chunk of their core. But what will the Golden State Warriors do?</p><p>The veteran trio of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler could all be free agents after the 2026-27 campaign, so the front office is under serious pressure to round out a championship-level roster this summer. Although <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/siegels-scoop-latest-warriors-jonathan-kuminga-nba-free-agency-intel">the Jonathan Kuminga situation</a> remains a focus, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is also looking at some unrestricted free agents who can help the squad become better equipped for a deep playoffs run. The Dubs <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6455296/2025/06/30/warriors-nba-free-agency-2025-jonathan-kuminga/" rel="noopener">have a position and player in mind</a>.</p><p>“Team sources have identified a stretch center as a high priority,” The Athletic’s Anthony Slater writes. “Many in the league continue to link Al Horford to the Warriors as a preferred target.</p><p>“If the Warriors use the taxpayer midlevel exception (projected at around $5.7 million) on Horford or another free agent, they’ll be hard-capped at the second apron, currently projected at $207.8 million. The Warriors currently have nine players under contract at $170.5 million. Kuminga’s qualifying offer, extended over the weekend by the Warriors, is $7.9 million, but his cap hold is $22.9 million, further clogging the Warriors’ books if his situation drags deeper into July.”</p><p>The Stein Line’s Mark Stein and Jake Fischer expressed the same sentiment, which illustrates Golden State’s <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-absolute-latest-nba-free-agency?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167190832&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">apparently profuse interest</a> in the five-time All-Star. Horford recently turned 39 years old and sharply declined from an efficiency standpoint — averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and and 36.3 percent from 3-point land last season — but he still embodies much of what the Warriors wish to accomplish.</p><h2><b>This ‘old timer’ could pair quite nicely with Warriors</b></h2><p>Horford brings additional championship experience and a capable 3-point shot, posting a 37.7 career shooting percentage from beyond the arc during his 18-year NBA career. He is a solid defender and can get hot from the field on occasion. Beyond his statistical contributions, though, Horford exemplifies the strong mentality this team demands from its supporting cast.</p><p>The 2011 All-NBA Third-Team selection knows what his role is at this point and still seems more than capable of executing it. If necessary, however, Al Horford can shoulder a bigger workload. He played 27.7 minutes per game for the Boston Celtics last season, doing his best to compensate for Kristaps Porzingis’ lengthy absence. Warriors fans may not be enthused at the idea of getting even older, but this big man remains an adaptable and hungry competitor.</p><p>With limited options, the Dubs can do worse than signing such a free agent. The question is, though, will Horford want to join another team after his renaissance in Boston? Celtics president of basketball operations <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/brad-stevens-celtics-al-horford-luke-kornet">Brad Stevens has already expressed his desire</a> to bring him back, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-provides-nsfw-rehab-update-achilles-injury">Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury</a> and an altered roster could compel him to explore other options. He does not have the luxury of waiting out a potential transition year.</p><p>When taking everything into account, it is hard to deny the natural fit of this hypothetical pairing. The Warriors might have to move quickly if they are serious about bolstering their frontcourt.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Warriors rumors: Al Horford emerges as Dubs’ ‘preferred target’ in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-trade-proposal-for-lebron-james-pairs-nba-legend-with-steph-curry');   ga('set', 'title', 'Warriors’ trade proposal for LeBron James pairs NBA legend with Steph Curry');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/756564767-warriors-trade-proposal-for-lebron-james-pairs-nba-legend-with-steph-curry.jpg"></figure><h1>Warriors’ trade proposal for LeBron James pairs NBA legend with Steph Curry</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T10:34:13-07:00">June 30th, 10:34am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T10:34:13-07:00">June 30th, 10:34am</time><address><a>Bailey Bassett</a>Bailey Bassett is a sports writer from Denver, Colorado, covering major sports events and athlete backgrounds at ClutchPoints. He has experience covering and writing on high school, collegiate, and professional sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LeBron James and Stephen Curry are the two greatest players of the last generation of basketball. One of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/updating-ranking-the-50-greatest-players-nba">best NBA players in history</a> has had some epic battles throughout the years with the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/ranking-20-best-shooters-in-nba-history-stephen-curry-ray-allen-klay-thompson">most elite shooter in NBA history</a>. Because of that, fans have long dreamed of the two teaming up. It may be a more realistic possibility than ever this offseason.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-makes-52-6-million-contract-decision">James just picked up his player option for $52.6 million</a>, but his agent,<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/ranking-best-lebron-james-trade-destinations-rich-paul-bombshell-lakers-quotes"> Rich Paul, also hinted at potential trade interest</a>. The Golden State Warriors seem like one of the logical trade partners for James if the Los Angeles Lakers are forced to move him.</p><h2><b>Warriors’ potential trade package for LeBron James</b></h2><p><b>Warriors receive:</b> LeBron James, Bronny James</p><p><b>Lakers receive:</b> Jimmy Butler</p><p>James has not outright demanded a trade, and there is still a good chance that he will finish out his career in Los Angeles. However, Paul <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1939343388660146673" rel="noopener">said</a>, “He [James] knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.</p><p>“We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”</p><p>These comments, at the bare minimum, suggest that James isn’t happy with the state of the Lakers roster. At most, it signals that he wants to move to a legitimate contender.</p><p>James forms an excellent pairing with Luka Doncic, a fellow megastar who is among the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-top-100-player-rankings-2024-25-season">best players currently in the NBA</a> and the main piece from last trade deadline’s biggest blockbuster deal. However, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-trade-grade-luka-doncic-deal">Doncic trade</a> left the Lakers with some holes on the roster. Most notably, a lack of center depth hurt them in the postseason.</p><p>While this trade proposal wouldn’t fix the big-man problem in Los Angeles, it would better set them up for the future. Jimmy Butler is no spring chicken, but at 35 years old, he likely has more tread on the tires than the 40-year-old James does. A leaked video confirmed that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-overheard-revealing-wife-wants-retire">James likely only has one or two more seasons left</a> in him.</p><p>Butler does a little bit of everything and could fill the void left by James’ potential departure better than most. Like James, he is one of the best playmaking wings in the NBA. He is also an excellent interior and midrange scorer, an incredible defender, and one of the rare superstars who is willing to do the dirty work that leads to winning.</p><p>Doncic has never been a defensive ace or one who is known for hustling, but Butler could mask some of the flaws of the player who the Lakers have made their long-term face of the franchise.</p><p>The Lakers might want some draft capital in return for James, but they couldn’t be too upset about flipping a 40-year-old for a six-time All-Star, especially considering <a href="https://x.com/GetUpESPN/status/1939661634974240973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1939661634974240973%7Ctwgr%5Ea42510ce908fe8e47a72303930125e5d39613dd7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fathlonsports.com%2Fnba%2Flos-angeles-lakers%2Flos-angeles-lakers-lebron-james-trade-value" rel="noopener">reports suggested</a> that teams would be hesitant to part with multiple players in a deal for James.</p><h2><b>Does LeBron James make sense for the Warriors?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/LeBron-James-Stephen-Curry-after-Lakers-Warriors-game.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Warriors traded Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters, Kyle Anderson, Andrew Wiggins, and a protected first-round pick <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/grade-the-trade-jimmy-butler-to-warriors-in-deal-with-heat">for Jimmy Butler ahead of the trade deadline</a>. Butler fit in perfectly, and the Warriors had their best stretch of the season with him on the team. That makes it unlikely that they’d flip him in a package for James.</p><p>James is the superior player to Butler as of now, but both players do a lot of the same things at this stage in their respective careers. Butler is not only younger, but he is under team control for longer.</p><p>Even so, the Warriors might not be in a position to legitimately contend for the championship right now, so a swing on a four-time champion with 10 NBA Finals appearances could be fun.</p><p>James’ driving and playmaking ability at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, would work perfectly with a shooter like Curry.</p><p>From a roster-building perspective, it likely doesn’t make sense to add James, but fans would remember decades from now when the all-time leading scorer teamed up with the all-time leading 3-point shooter, especially after all of the epic NBA Finals battles they shared beforehand.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Warriors’ trade proposal for LeBron James pairs NBA legend with Steph Curry

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/ranking-4-best-deandre-ayton-free-agency-destinations-blazers-buyout');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ranking 4 best Deandre Ayton free agency destinations after Blazers buyout');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ranking-4-best-Deandre-Ayton-free-agency-destinations-after-Blazers-buyout.jpg"></figure><h1>Ranking 4 best Deandre Ayton free agency destinations after Blazers buyout</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T08:58:25-07:00">June 30th, 8:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T08:59:20-07:00">June 30th, 8:59am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Less than 24 hours before the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-free-agency-2025-tracker">start of NBA free agency</a>, an intriguing name was added to the mix for teams to battle for. Deandre Ayton, the first pick from the 2018 NBA Draft, is finalizing a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-deandre-ayton-becomes-free-agent-center-portland-contract-buyout">buyout agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers</a> and will be free to sign with any team in the league once he clears waivers.</p><p>Ayton, 26, proved to be one of the best centers in the league during his first two years with the Phoenix Suns, and he was an instrumental part of the team’s NBA Finals push in 2021. However, after nearly leaving the Suns in 2022 by way of signing an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers as a restricted free agent, Ayton returned to Phoenix on a four-year, $133 million contract.</p><p>But the damage had been done, and this relationship between the young center and the team that drafted him was tarnished. As a result, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-deandre-ayton-trade-jusuf-nurkic-blazers-damian-lillard-bucks">Ayton was traded to the Blazers</a> in a deal that sent Jusuf Nurkic to Phoenix in 2023. Since then, Ayton’s role has diminished significantly, which ultimately led to Portland’s decision to part ways with him as he entered the final year of his contract.</p><p>Although virtually no teams held interest in trading for Ayton given his near $35 million cap hit for the 2025-26 season, he now becomes one of the best free agents on the market who could come at a major discount to a contending-like team in need of frontcourt.</p><p>Before diving into the top four teams that make the most sense for Ayton, it’s worth bringing up some dark horses as honorable mentions.</p><p>The Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers all enter the free agency period seeking frontcourt help. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/hornets-news-charlotte-acquires-collin-sexton-jazz-jusuf-nurkic">Charlotte just traded Nurkic to the Utah Jazz</a>, and they also traded Mark Williams during the 2025 NBA Draft, resulting in a clear opening for a starting center. Could Deandre Ayton shock everyone and pass on offers from playoff-like teams to try and revive his career with the Hornets?</p><p>Philadelphia needs extra depth behind Joel Embiid, Milwaukee is trying to stack talent around Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Celtics just traded away Kristaps Porzingis. Will Ayton sign with any of these teams?</p><p>Here are the destinations that make the most sense for the soon-to-be former Trail Blazers center.</p><h2><b>4. San Antonio Spurs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DeAaron-Fox-drops-hard-truth-on-reality-without-Victor-Wembanyama-2.jpg"><figcaption>Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It has become abundantly clear that the San Antonio Spurs need more options in their frontcourt. While Victor Wembanyama has been the team’s starting center, the Spurs want to have options where they can potentially play Wemby next to other big guys, creating a virtually unguardable one-two punch outside of their vast backcourt talent.</p><p>Ayton is a traditional back-to-the-basket big man who has always been a strong rebounder. In 40 games last season with Portland, Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56.6 percent from the floor.</p><p>This type of center is exactly who the Spurs need to protect Wembanyama from minute overload. No matter what people say, Ayton has always been an efficient double-double-like big man through the years, and he would play a very comfortable role where he understands he doesn’t need to overdo it next to cemented stars.</p><p>The Spurs will enter free agency with their full mid-level exception available. While this could be used to pursue Deandre Ayton, it’s much more likely that San Antonio will <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/76ers-news-ascending-western-conference-squad-guerschon-yabusele-suitor">consider some cheaper options</a>, like Guerschon Yabusele and Luke Kornet.</p><h2><b>3. New York Knicks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Karl-Anthony-Towns.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The New York Knicks have been mentioned as a possible suitor for Ayton in the past. Although they never truly pursued the former first-overall pick while he was with Portland, the Knicks did <a href="https://sny.tv/articles/knicks-mailbag-9-27-2024" rel="noopener">background work</a> to gain a better understanding of what Ayton could potentially bring to the table.</p><p>Even though he seemed to fit in perfectly next to Jalen Brunson this past year, there have been questions about Karl-Anthony Towns’ long-term future with New York and whether he is just a short-term star for the team to contend with. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-mitchell-robinson-2025-nba-trade-deadline">Questions about Mitchell Robinson’s future</a> also exist since he is entering the final year of his contract and has an extensive injury history.</p><p>It would make a lot of sense for the Knicks to explore the idea of adding Ayton to their frontcourt since he’s one of the better rebounders in the NBA. Not to mention, the Knicks are already an apron team with little room to actually add impactful talents in free agency.</p><p>Even though it is unknown what type of contract Ayton will be wanting after his buyout with the Trail Blazers, it is realistic to believe he would take a major discount to own a featured role for a contending franchise.</p><p>That would be the case here for Deandre Ayton and the Knicks, which is why a mutual level of interest may exist. Then again, there are two better spots for Ayton in the Western Conference.</p><h2><b>2. Golden State Warriors</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Warriors-news-Stephen-Currys-legendary-message-to-Draymond-Green-after-All-Defense-honor.jpg"><figcaption>Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Golden State Warriors have needed a center for quite some time. This problem has been masked by Stephen Curry’s greatness and Steve Kerr’s unique playoff rotations, where Draymond Green and Kevon Looney have seen the bulk of minutes in the frontcourt.</p><p>Although the Warriors attempted to find their big man of the future several years ago when they drafted James Wiseman second overall, that did not work the way Golden State imagined. Once again, the Dubs enter the offseason with questions about their frontcourt, especially since Looney is a free agent and the team doesn’t want to wear down Draymond at the center position throughout an 82-game season.</p><p>Despite not having the ability to step out on the perimeter and consistently knock down shots like Brook Lopez, a player the Warriors are known to have interest in entering free agency, Ayton could be the perfect big man for this Curry-led offense.</p><p>Aside from being a productive finisher around the rim who can be a low-post option for the team to play through at times, Ayton is one of the best centers when it comes to creating second-chance scoring opportunities off offensive rebounds. He ranked tied for 12th in the league with 3.1 offensive rebounds per game last season.</p><p>What makes Ayton an interesting fit for a team like Golden State is his screening and rolling abilities. The Warriors’ offense features a lot of movement and cutting actions, especially for players involved in screens on the perimeter. Ayton is a big-bodied center who would create extra space for Curry and Jimmy Butler coming off screens, as well as be a mismatch at times when rolling to the rim against smaller defenders.</p><p>The Dubs have truly never had a big man like Deandre Ayton in the Curry era, which is why adding him to the mix would open up a whole new avenue for this offense to flow.</p><h2><b>1. Los Angeles Lakers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/LeBron-James-and-Luka-Doncic-on-the-Lakers-court.jpg"><figcaption>Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It would not be all that surprising if Ayton already has his eyes set on the Los Angeles Lakers following the news of his buyout with Portland.</p><p>Every team around the league knows that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-pursue-deandre-ayton-free-agency-blazers-buyout">Lakers have been searching for a center</a> since the trade deadline, which is why they have come up short in their pursuit of frontcourt talent. Very few impactful big men exist in free agency this offseason, which puts Ayton at the front of Los Angeles’ wish list.</p><p>As the Lakers push forward with Luka Doncic as the face of their franchise, regardless of what happens with LeBron James, they must bring in an impactful player who is comfortable running the two-man game with Doncic. Ayton can be that player given his efficiency and ability to play above the rim as a lob threat.</p><p>When he was with the Suns, Ayton’s best year came when Chris Paul was getting him involved in these types of sets and finding him as a roller going toward the rim. Playing alongside Luka would be almost the same philosophy for Ayton, which is why he could truly find a lot of success in Los Angeles.</p><p>The Lakers need a center, and Deandre Ayton is the best option for them, with free agency beginning on Monday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ranking 4 best Deandre Ayton free agency destinations after Blazers buyout

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/player-golden-state-warriors-must-avoid-2025-nba-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'The player Golden State Warriors must avoid in 2025 NBA free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Daniil-Medvedev-slump.jpg"></figure><h1>The player Golden State Warriors must avoid in 2025 NBA free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T08:42:08-07:00">June 30th, 8:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T08:42:08-07:00">June 30th, 8:42am</time><address><a>Cameron Zunkel</a>Cameron Zunkel is a former college athlete for the University of Illinois, Springfield. During that time, he earned his masters degree in Communication. After graduating in 2022, Cameron signed to play independent professional baseball with the Joliet Slammers, but his time was cut short due to injury. Nonetheless, his love for baseball and all sports never faded.Cameron loves the sports media and sports journalism side of things and does some light writing for a Chicago Cubs blog, as well. To go along with that, he loves sports betting and fantasy sports. He also loves digging on the research and creating content for both sports betting and fantasy sports!</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Golden State Warriors are coming off a pretty good season. They were able to upset the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. The Warriors hope to make it back to the playoffs this year, but there are some moves for the team to make.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/golden-state-warriors-2025-nba-draft-grades-every-pick">Golden State had a pretty good draft</a>, which helped upgrade their team. Additionally, the Warriors exercised a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-golden-state-team-option-40-8-3-point-breakout-star-quinten-post">team option on Quinten Post</a>, while showing <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/nba-rumors-warriors-linked-herb-jones-nickeil-alexander-walker">interest in plenty of other players</a> in NBA free agency. However, there are going to be a few players the Warriors will be losing heading into the new season. With that in mind, Golden State will have to find a way to replace a few players if they want to continue to be a playoff team.</p><p>With free agency comes some bad fits. There are no doubt a few players the Warriors have to stray away from when figuring out who they want to bring to the Bay Area. With that said, below is one player the Warriors have to avoid in free agency this summer.</p><h2><b>What do the Warriors need?</b></h2><p>The Warriors are going to be losing a few players. Jonathan Kuminga is most likely not going to be back next season. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-golden-state-7-9-million-jonathan-kuminga-qualifying-offer">Warriors extended a qualifying offer</a>, but Kuminga is not too keen on returning to them. Along with that, Kevon Looney is going to be a free agent. He was just a role player, but the Warrior will still have to replace him.</p><p>Looking at the current roster in Golden State, the team still has two stars in Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. They are both set to make <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/yearly" rel="noopener">more than $50 million</a> this season, while Draymond Green will be paid a little bit over $25 million. Those three players are taking up a majority of the cap space, but there is still some room for the Warriors to improve.</p><p>Golden State’s frontcourt consists of just Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Quinten Post. If the Warriors want to improve their game, adding a center in free agency is going to be key. Along with that, Golden State could use a backup point guard to help give Steph Curry a break, while not taking the team out of games.</p><h2><b>Who should the Warriors stay away from in free agency?</b></h2><p>Knowing what the team needs goes a long way towards understanding what player they should stay away from. The team needs have to be addressed, but there are still some players who are bad fits.</p><p>Last season, the Warriors rebounded the ball well, but that is because they did not shoot the ball well. The team had a very low field goal percentage, and their three-point percentage was low considering how many threes they took per game. The Warriors can not have someone on their team that is going to add to their poor display of shooting, especially from beyond the arc.</p><p>With that in mind, the Warriors have to stay away from Malcolm Brogdon.</p><p>Brogdon, on paper, is a great backup point guard that would fit into the Warriors bench. However, he is not the right player for the Warriors. Last season, the guard only played in 24 games due to a some injury problems. In the games he played, Brogdon shot just 43.3 percent from the field, and under 30 percent from the three-point point line.</p><p>Golden State does not need someone that is going to come off the bench and miss shots. Brogdon was not the best shooter, and for the amount of shots he took, he should have shot better. Additionally, he is not cheap. He made $22.5 million last year, and that is just too much for what the Warriors need.</p><p>There are plenty of players for Golden State to consider in free agency, Malcolm Brogdon should not be one of them.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The player Golden State Warriors must avoid in 2025 NBA free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/golden-state-warriors-2025-nba-draft-grades-every-pick');   ga('set', 'title', 'Golden State Warriors 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Golden-State-Warriors-2025-NBA-Draft-grades-for-every-pick.jpg"></figure><h1>Golden State Warriors 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T20:01:00-07:00">June 29th, 8:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T20:01:00-07:00">June 29th, 8:01pm</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After a turbulent few years trying to bridge the gap between eras, the Golden State Warriors once again find themselves straddling the line between aging greatness and youthful promise. Their 2025 NBA Draft class, while modest in terms of star power, reflects a franchise still chasing titles. Now, though, they have a sharper eye on roster balance and long-term viability. Sure, they didn’t swing for the fences. However, the Warriors made smart, system-conscious selections that could pay dividends sooner than later.</p><h2><b>The 2024-25 Season: Jimmied Open</b></h2><p><a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/gs">Golden State’s 48-34 finish</a> might not jump off the page, but context is everything. The Jimmy Butler trade changed Golden State’s fortunes. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/warriors-news-stephen-curry-message-critics-questioning-jimmy-butler-trade">The fit isn’t seamless</a>, yes. Butler’s scoring aggression waxes and wanes, and the reintroduction of Jonathan Kuminga continues to feature his usual peaks and valleys. That said, the team overall is undeniably better off.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/How-Draymond-Green-Jimmy-Butler-complicate-Warriors-offseason-search-for-starting-center.jpg"><figcaption>5/23/25</figcaption></figure><p>Truth be told, Golden State’s core showed real progress. Since Butler’s arrival, they’ve fielded a top-seven offense and defense. Stephen Curry forced himself back <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/warriors-news-draymond-green-makes-stephen-curry-all-nba-team-pitch">into the First-Team All-NBA conversation</a>, and critically, the Warriors dominated the minutes Butler played even without Steph. Draymond Green’s defense resembled his prime years, too.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/warriors-golden-state-blame-timberwolves-stephen-curry">Their second-round playoff exit</a> at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves stings. However, it’s also a statement: this team is closer than it was last season. With that context in mind, the Warriors’ 2025 Draft wasn’t about gambling on high-upside swings. It was about deepening a team already on the verge of something more.</p><p>Here we will hand out grades for every player whom the Golden State Warriors picked at the recent 2025 NBA Draft.</p><h2><b>Alex Toohey, F, Sydney Kings</b></h2><p><b>Grade: B</b></p><p>In a draft with few surefire bets in the mid-to-late first round, Alex Toohey might just be the type of player the Warriors can make shine. The Australian forward’s combination of defensive grit and unselfish ball movement aligns beautifully with Golden State’s free-flowing offense. Think of him as a younger, taller Shaun Livingston with a bit more playmaking juice.</p><p>Toohey doesn’t create much offense for himself. He is heavily reliant on rhythm shooting. That streakiness, could limit his floor time early in his career. However, within Steve Kerr’s motion offense, his feel for the game should translate. This is especially true if he earns trust on the defensive end. If Toohey can become a consistent 35-37 percent three-point shooter and hold his own defensively, there’s a clear path to minutes behind Butler and Kuminga. If his jumper truly clicks? The Warriors might have snagged one of the sneakiest rotational wings of this class.</p><p>In essence, Toohey feels like a Warrior pick. He is someone whose impact goes beyond the box score. The B grade reflects his need for growth as a scorer, but the upside within this system is quietly intriguing.</p><h2><b>Will Richard, G, Florida</b></h2><p><b>Grade: B-</b></p><p>Will Richard was a glue guy in Florida’s national championship run. He was not always flashy, but he was consistently impactful. His calling cards? High-level on-ball defense and smooth, on-the-move shooting. Both skills are in demand for a Golden State team that has occasionally lacked perimeter defensive depth and consistent shooting beyond Curry and Klay.</p><p>Richard’s ability to shift between guard spots and toggle defensive assignments should help him find minutes. However, his shot selection at Florida was occasionally erratic, and his catch-and-shoot numbers dipped during key stretches of the NCAA Tournament. That inconsistency is the main reason his draft stock didn’t soar higher.</p><p>That said, there’s a defined role here for Richard if he leans into being a 3-and-D guard who doesn’t try to do too much. In some ways, he mirrors the Jordan Poole of old with better defensive chops. Provided he’s willing to embrace a low-usage role and knock down open shots when Curry or Butler draw double teams, he could become a valuable second-unit piece.</p><h2><b>System Over Splash</b></h2><p>Golden State’s 2025 Draft wasn’t about grabbing headlines. It was about refining the edges of an already sharp blade. Both Toohey and Richard are system fits more than star bets. That might underwhelm fans longing for the next franchise cornerstone. However, for a team committed to chasing another title in the Curry-Butler-Green twilight, it’s a justifiable approach.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Toohey.jpg"></figure><p>The Warriors didn’t overextend themselves or reach for upside they couldn’t nurture. Instead, they brought in two players who understand roles, move the ball, defend willingly, and could elevate an already tight rotation. That’s not sexy, but it’s smart. For a team trying to thread the needle between present contention and future flexibility, smart matters.</p><h2><b>Overall Draft Grade: B</b></h2><p>While no franchise-altering star walked through the door this June, the Warriors exited the 2025 NBA Draft with two players who could contribute meaningfully within their structured, motion-heavy system. Both Alex Toohey and Will Richard come with question marks — jumper consistency, role scalability — but also possess traits that align with what Golden State demands: high-IQ movement, positional defense, and low-ego play.</p><p>The Warriors didn’t swing big, but they didn’t whiff either. Call it a base hit that could eventually lead to runs — if not this season, then soon enough.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Golden State Warriors 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-golden-state-team-option-40-8-3-point-breakout-star-quinten-post');   ga('set', 'title', 'Warriors exercise team option on 40.8% 3-point breakout star');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Warriors-C-Quinten-Post.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Warriors exercise team option on 40.8% 3-point breakout star</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T13:55:15-07:00">June 29th, 1:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T13:58:31-07:00">June 29th, 1:58pm</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/1-sneaky-good-player-golden-state-warriors-must-sign-in-2025-nba-free-agency">Golden State Warriors will be limited during the upcoming NBA free agency</a> period, but they just made their first of several small moves. The Warriors exercised their team option on 2024-2025 breakout rookie center Quinten Post to keep him on the roster for another year.</p><p>After making the league minimum as a rookie, Post will <a href="https://x.com/MikeAScotto/status/1939407074989052001" rel="noopener">earn $1.9 million</a> in 2025-2026, per HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto. Post is one of three players the Warriors have a player option on in the upcoming season, joining Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos. Golden State also picked up Santos’ option to bring him back for a third year.</p><p>Post, a 2024 second-round pick, came on strong late in the year. As Kevon Looney and Trayce Jackson-Davis struggled with consistency, Steve Kerr gave Post 14 starts down the stretch. The Boston College alum averaged 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.4 blocks in 42 games.</p><p>As the team’s best floor-spacing center, Post added to the offense in a way Looney and Jackson-Davis could not. Post hit 40.8 percent of his three-point attempts as a rookie, the highest clip on the team. He started two of the Warriors’ 12 playoff games — one against the Houston Rockets and one against the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p><p>After trading for and subsequently <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/warriors-news-jimmy-butler-golden-state-extension-heat-trade">extending Jimmy Butler</a>, the Warriors’ cap space is limited in the 2025 offseason. Butler and Stephen Curry will each make over $50 million in the next two years, with Draymond Green raking in over $25 million in the span. That gives the three stars over $140 million total in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 seasons.</p><h2><b>Warriors face intriguing decisions in 2025 NBA free agency</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Warriors-head-coach-Steve-Kerr-looks-on.jpg"><figcaption>Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Technically, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/warriors-news-golden-state-7-9-million-jonathan-kuminga-qualifying-offer">Warriors tendered a qualifying offer to Jonathan Kuminga</a> for their first free agency move. However, with Kuminga seeking a pay raise as a restricted free agent, he is unlikely to sign the $7.9 million deal. Instead, Golden State reserves the right to match any offer he signs.</p><p>With Post and Santos now officially signed through the 2025-2026 season, the Warriors have eight players under contract, not including rookies Alex Toohey and Will Richard. Jackson-Davis, Buddy Hield and Moses Moody round out Golden State’s pre-free agency roster. Moody, who will make $11 million in the upcoming season, is the only player other than Curry, Butler and Green slated to earn an eight-figure salary.</p><p>Golden State clearly needs to add size in free agency and has made that a priority. Brook Lopez, Santi Aldama, Larry Nance Jr. and Mason Plumlee headline the available players who would best fit on the roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Warriors exercise team option on 40.8% 3-point breakout star

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/ranking-best-lebron-james-trade-destinations-rich-paul-bombshell-lakers-quotes');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ranking 5 best LeBron James trade destinations after Rich Paul’s bombshell Lakers quotes');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/756246540-ranking-5-best-lebron-james-trade-destinations-after-rich-paul-s-eye-opening-lakers-quotes.jpg"></figure><h1>Ranking 5 best LeBron James trade destinations after Rich Paul’s bombshell Lakers quotes</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T11:21:27-07:00">June 29th, 11:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T11:21:47-07:00">June 29th, 11:21am</time><address><a>Bailey Bassett</a>Bailey Bassett is a sports writer from Denver, Colorado, covering major sports events and athlete backgrounds at ClutchPoints. He has experience covering and writing on high school, collegiate, and professional sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LeBron James has spent each of the last seven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. When he joined the team, it was widely assumed that the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/updating-ranking-the-50-greatest-players-nba"> all-time great</a> wouldn’t have many great years left. Instead, the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/25-greatest-small-forwards-in-nba-history-ranked"> best small forward ever</a> has defied Father Time and is slated to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-longest-careers-history">play in a record 23rd NBA</a> season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-makes-52-6-million-contract-decision">James just picked up the $52.6 million player option</a> on his contract for next season, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-fans-thinking-lebron-james-trade-rich-paul-comments">Rich Paul had some interesting comments</a> when James did so.</p><p>Paul, who is James’ agent, <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1939342381058281819" rel="noopener">said</a>, “We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.” While that wasn’t an outright trade request from the mouth of James’ agent, it did open up the door for a trade, which hadn’t previously been thought of as a possibility by NBA fandom. Paul <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1939343388660146673" rel="noopener">continued,</a> “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”</p><p>The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-trade-grade-luka-doncic-deal"> Lakers traded for Luka Doncic</a> ahead of last season’s trade deadline. While James is seemingly happy with his pairing alongside Doncic, who was acquired in one of the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/the-most-shocking-nba-trades-ever-ranked"> biggest fleeces ever</a>, the move put the Lakers on a timeline that is more set up for the future rather than the present. Los Angeles’ roster is solid as of now, but it might not be deep enough to win a championship, which James clearly wants to do again before retiring. Any potential James trade would likely need to include his son, Bronny James, but what destinations actually make sense if the former first overall pick truly does want to be moved? Check out the gallery to find out.</p><h2><b>5. LeBron James to the Denver Nuggets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/756246534-lebron-james-nuggets.jpg"><figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If James wants to win another championship,it would make sense to join the team that he has struggled against in recent years. The Denver Nuggets won the NBA Finals in 2023, and they swept James’ Lakers along the way. Denver beat the Lakers in a five-game series that included two Jamal Murray game-winners in the first round of the 2024 playoffs as well. All in all, the squad led by Nikola Jokic has won <a href="https://www.landofbasketball.com/head_to_head_gl/lakers_vs_nuggets_game_log_season.htm">15 of the last 20</a> games between the Lakers and the Nuggets.</p><p>Leaving Los Angeles for Denver could be looked at in a similar light to when Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors after the Warriors knocked Durant out of the playoffs. Durant was criticized for that decision to join the enemy, but at the end of the day, it resulted in two championships. James has been unable to beat the Nuggets, but he could potentially win with them.</p><p>The Nuggets were actually <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/source-nuggets-aggressively-pursuing-meeting-free-agent-lebron-james-075605653.html" rel="noopener">interested in</a> pursuing James dating back to 2018. Nobody knew that Jokic would become one of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/25-greatest-centers-nba-history-ranked">best centers ever</a> at that point. The big man from Serbia and the kid from Akron are two of the smartest NBA players ever, and their playmaking prowess, passing expertise, and unmatched basketball IQ would make for a fun pairing. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-offseason-trade-proposal-michael-porter-jr-after-postseason-struggles">Michael Porter Jr. has been rumored as a trade candidate</a> for the Nuggets this offseason because he had a rough postseason.</p><p>Porter is an excellent 3-point shooter who better fits a Doncic timeline, and he’d thrive catching passing from Doncic as he has from Jokic, so he could be used as the primary trade chip in a deal for James. James, meanwhile, could be the piece that gets Denver back into the NBA Finals. The Nuggets need depth, and having both Jokic and James on the roster could be enough to incentivize free agents to come to Denver for cheap.</p><h2><b>4. Minnesota Timberwolves add LeBron James</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/756246538-lebron-james-timberwolves.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the most aggressive teams in<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/timberwolves-rumors-brian-windhorst-claims-minnesota-on-verge-kevin-durant-trade"> pursuing a trade for Durant</a>. Ultimately, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/kevin-durant-trade-grades-rockets-suns-after-blockbuster-deal">Phoenix Suns took a deal from the Houston Rockets.</a> A deal for a different veteran legend might not be a bad idea for Minnesota, as James would be a pretty great consolation prize.</p><p>The Timberwolves have lost in the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons. They need a player who can get them over the hump. James has been to the conference finals 12 times, winning 10 of those appearances. He clearly knows what it takes to get to the NBA Finals, which is something the Timberwolves have never done in franchise history.</p><p>The rumored <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/kevin-durant-trade-offer-timberwolves-make-suns-seal-deal">package for Durant</a> was something along the lines of Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, either Terrence Shannon Jr. or Rob Dillingham, and a draft pick. It might cost less to acquire James, considering he is already 40 years old. If that is the case, it could make sense to pair James and Anthony Edwards. The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/timberwolves-news-naz-reids-massive-contract-bobby-marks-questioning-value"> Timberwolves just extended Naz Reid</a> and drafted Joan Beringer in the first round <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/timberwolves-news-julius-randle-100-million-contract-naz-reid-bonanza">while also bringing back Julius Randle</a>. They seem ready to move off of Gobert, and it is clear that they coveted another star who can take some of the offensive burden off of Edwards’ shoulders. The Lakers, meanwhile, are desperate for a starting center. Therefore, a trade of James to the Timberwolves could make sense.</p><h2><b>3. Golden State Warriors pair LeBron James and Steph Curry</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/756246539-lebron-james-warriors.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Terada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>James and Stephen Curry battled it out for years, which led to many fans fantasizing about what a pairing between the two could look like. James is the greatest physical specimen that the league has ever seen, while Curry is the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/ranking-20-best-shooters-in-nba-history-stephen-curry-ray-allen-klay-thompson">best shooter in NBA history</a>. Both are past their primes, but it would be cool to see them end their careers teaming up together rather than trying to beat one another.</p><p>James could be traded alongside his son for Jimmy Butler. Butler fit great with the Warriors after being traded for last season, but a trade for James might be too tempting to pass up, even though Butler is the younger player. James could thrive in the do-it-all wing role that Butler found success in with the Warriors.</p><p>Curry, James, and Draymond Green only have a few good years left, but together, they might have enough left in the tank for one more championship run.</p><h2><b>2. Oklahoma City Thunder trade for LeBron James</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/756246537-lebron-james-thunder.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder are in a great position. Clearly, they have the talent on the roster to win now, and they don’t need to make any desperation moves. However, they also have the firepower to trade for whichever superstar they want. The Thunder have so many young assets and future draft picks that they can likely outbid any other team for any player on the trading block, and that includes James.</p><p>James would be a luxury for the Thunder and not a necessity. If he truly wants a trade to a contender, though, he could hold out for whichever team he wants, as he is one of two players with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-does-lebron-james-have-no-trade-clause">no-trade clause on his contract</a>. James would fit well in Oklahoma City, too, as the team prioritizes excellent passers with a high feel for the game. His 3-point shot has improved over the years, too, further  enhancing what could be a great fit.</p><p>The Thunder seem unlikely to sacrifice their young core or unload tons of future draft capital for a 40-year-old. After all, they’ve built their team the right way. They’ve got picks to spare, though, so they could trade for James if they really wanted to. No team offers the all-time scoring leader a better chance to win one more ring than the Thunder would.</p><h2><b>1. LeBron James’ homecoming with Cleveland Cavaliers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/756246532-lebron-james-cavaliers.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers would have some serious hoops to jump through to get under the second apron and make a move for James, but a second homecoming makes too much sense for the Ohio native. James went to high school just outside of Cleveland, he was drafted by the Cavaliers, and he delivered the team a promised championship after returning from a stint with the Miami Heat.</p><p>Ending his career where it started would make for a storybook ending to a memorable career for James. The Cavaliers have a championship-caliber roster, too. They showed this with a 15-game winning streak to start the 2024-25 season, which was the second-<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/longest-undefeated-streaks-nba-history">best undefeated streak ever</a>. Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen form arguably the best big four in the NBA.</p><p>One or more of the players might have to be moved to make the money work, and a deal might not make the most sense from a roster-building perspective for the Cavaliers. Even so, everybody would like to see this heartwarming story to end James’ career, and both he and the Cavaliers have proven in the past that they are happy reuniting.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ranking 5 best LeBron James trade destinations after Rich Paul’s bombshell Lakers quotes

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/1-sneaky-good-player-golden-state-warriors-must-sign-in-2025-nba-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', '1 sneaky good player golden state warriors must sign in 2025 NBA free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-sneaky-good-player-Golden-State-Warriors-must-sign-in-2025-NBA-free-agency.jpg"></figure><h1>1 sneaky good player golden state warriors must sign in 2025 NBA free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T10:13:11-07:00">June 29th, 10:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T10:13:11-07:00">June 29th, 10:13am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/3-early-golden-state-warriors-trade-targets-in-2025-nba-offseason">Golden State Warriors</a> prepare for the 2025 NBA free agency, the franchise faces a pivotal crossroads. The 2024-25 campaign ended in disappointment, with a second-round playoff exit exposing a glaring weakness: a lack of size and interior defense that the Warriors’ trademark small-ball wizardry couldn’t mask. Draymond Green, now 35, can no longer single-handedly anchor the frontcourt against the league’s best big men, and the need for a true stretch-five has never been more urgent. Amid the swirling rumors and big-name targets, one sneaky good player stands out as the ideal fit for Golden State’s championship ambitions: Brook Lopez.</p><p>Golden State’s recent playoff exit underscored a recurring issue: a lack of size, rim protection, and reliable floor spacing from the five spot. Draymond Green, while still effective, is not a full-time center at this stage of his career. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post remain unproven, and Kevon Looney is an unrestricted free agent whose future with the team is uncertain. The Warriors’ front office, led by Mike Dunleavy, has made it clear that upgrading the center position is a top priority this summer.</p><h2>Why Brook Lopez Is the Perfect Fit</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Garrett-Kerman-1.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Brook Lopez, coming off another productive season with the Milwaukee Bucks, is the answer to Golden State’s problems in the paint. At 37, Lopez still averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting an impressive 36.8% from beyond the arc on five attempts per game. His ability to stretch the floor as a legitimate three-point threat is exactly what the Warriors’ offense, built around Curry’s gravity, needs.</p><p>But Lopez is more than just a shooter. He remains one of the NBA’s premier rim protectors, averaging 1.9 blocks per game this past season and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting just a year ago. His presence in the paint would instantly shore up a Warriors defense that too often relies on perimeter switching and undersized lineups. Lopez’s knack for contesting shots and anchoring a defense would allow Green to roam and disrupt, maximizing the impact of both veterans.</p><p>It’s fair to question how a 37-year-old Lopez would fit into Steve Kerr’s up-tempo system. The Warriors thrive on mobility, quick decision-making, and relentless pace. However, Lopez’s outside shooting ensures that he won’t clog the lane, and his high basketball IQ allows him to make the right reads within Golden State’s motion offense. While he may not sprint the floor like a younger big, his ability to space the court and hit timely threes means he can keep up with the Warriors’ offensive flow.</p><p>Defensively, Lopez’s lack of switchability can be a liability against certain matchups, as seen when Indiana played him off the floor in the playoffs. Yet, the Warriors are uniquely equipped to cover for this with their versatile wings and Green’s ability to guard multiple positions. Against most opponents, Lopez’s rim protection will far outweigh his occasional struggles on the perimeter.</p><p>Lopez brings something else the Warriors covet: playoff experience and a championship résumé. He was a key piece on Milwaukee’s 2021 title team and has played in countless high-leverage games. His calm demeanor and leadership would be invaluable in a locker room that’s seen the highs and lows of NBA contention. For a team that’s all-in on winning now, Lopez’s experience is a major asset.</p><h2>Cap Constraints and Realistic Target</h2><p>Golden State’s salary cap situation is tight, but Lopez is a realistic target given the market and his age. Unlike younger, more expensive centers, Lopez is likely to command a mid-level exception or a short-term deal, fitting within the Warriors’ financial constraints. With Milwaukee reportedly ready to let him walk, the Warriors have a legitimate shot at landing him without a bidding war.</p><p>Adding Lopez would fundamentally change the Warriors’ rotation. He would start at center, allowing Green to return to his natural power forward role and Butler to focus on perimeter defense and secondary playmaking. Curry would benefit from the added spacing, and the Warriors’ pick-and-pop game would become even more lethal. On defense, Lopez’s shot-blocking would deter drives, reducing the burden on the perimeter defenders and helping Golden State close out games against bigger, more physical teams.</p><p>The Warriors have made it clear: they’re not content to simply run it back. To truly contend in the loaded Western Conference, they need a center who can stretch the floor, protect the rim, and bring veteran savvy. Brook Lopez checks every box. He’s the sneaky good free agent who could transform Golden State from a fringe contender into a legitimate title threat for the 2025-26 season. If the Warriors want to maximize their window with Curry, Butler, and Green, signing Lopez is the move that could make all the difference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 sneaky good player golden state warriors must sign in 2025 NBA free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-ty-jerome-garnering-interest-from-warriors-according-to-zach-lowe');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Ty Jerome garnering interest from Warriors, according to Zach Lowe');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/741965493-ty-jerome-cavs.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Ty Jerome garnering interest from Warriors, according to Zach Lowe</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T09:15:31-07:00">June 29th, 9:15am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T09:15:31-07:00">June 29th, 9:15am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-sam-merrill-planning-to-sign-38-million-contract-with-cleveland">Cleveland Cavaliers signed Sam Merrill to a new contract</a>, there seems to be some notions that the team won’t retain Ty Jerome this summer, leading to his departure. On top of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-acquiring-lonzo-ball-trade-bulls">Cavs also trading for Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro</a>, there’s more evidence that the Sixth Man of the Year finalist is likely headed to a new team, with one organization possibly being the Golden State Warriors.</p><p>Golden State’s interest was mentioned by Zach Lowe on his self-titled show, where he spoke about how head coach Steve Kerr <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1038&amp;v=WytdZw7GHE0&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener">“loved”</a> Jerome when the 27-year-old was with the team from 2022 to 2023 before the guard played for Cleveland. Lowe would also speak on the amount of money the team has for Jerome in a potential pursuit, plus the other players in question, like with Jonathan Kuminga.</p><p>“The Warriors, Steve Kerr reportedly loved Ty Jerome, loved him during his brief sojourn with the Warriors,” Lowe said. “They have about $17 million dollars of wiggle room below the tax. $26 million dollars below the first apron. Before, however, you account for Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, and another one of this summer’s free agency main characters, Jonathan Kuminga, boy oh boy is this going to be interesting.”</p><p>ClutchPoints’ NBA Insider Brett Siegel would <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/siegels-scoop-latest-warriors-jonathan-kuminga-nba-free-agency-intel">report that it also seems unlikely</a> that the Cavs would retain Jerome and had other teams listed besides the Warriors, like the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and others.</p><p>“Plenty of teams will hold interest in potentially signing Jerome using their full mid-level exception in free agency,” Siegel wrote. “Keep an eye on teams like the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, and Sacramento Kings as potential landing spots for Jerome. These four teams have a key need for backcourt depth.”</p><h2><b>Ty Jerome’s departure from the Cavaliers is near </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ty-Jerome-scores-Cavs.jpg"><figcaption>David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-ty-jerome-suitors-expected-cavs-exit">suitors reportedly lining up for the Cavs guard</a> after a productive season, serving as the team’s sparkplug off the bench, it does seem inevitable that he will be on another team. Jake Fischer of “The Stein Line” <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-free-agency-and-trade-talk-latest?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167049600&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">would echo the same sentiments</a> that, after the Ball trade and Merrill’s new contract, it signals Jerome’s departure is coming.</p><p>“The Cavaliers are widely expected to re-sign forthcoming free agent Sam Merrill, but the move to acquire Ball is a signal that Cleveland anticipates losing Ty Jerome in free agency,” Fischer wrote.</p><p>“Jerome is said to be seeking a deal that starts at the full midlevel exception, which is valued at $14.1 million,” Fischer continued. “Ball’s recent contract extension with the Bulls, which as we’ve pointed out previously was instantly described as soon as it was agreed to in February as a highly tradeable contract, will earn him $20 million over the next two seasons … with his new employers in Cleveland holding a team option for 2026-27.”</p><p>It remains to be seen which team ultimately ends up with Jerome, but either way, one team will get a highly effective player.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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