Five Games From The NBA’s Return Golden State Warriors Fans Should Check Out

The NBA is officially back. Tonight basketball finally returns to our screens as the seeding games ahead of the playoffs kick off in Disney World. The Golden State Warriors won’t be taking part, but there are still a host of interesting players and teams for Warriors fans to keep an eye on with free agency only a few months away.

Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks (July 31st)

This game features two of the Eastern Conference teams who are potentially most likely to make it to the NBA Finals in Orlando. And both teams have a lot riding on this restart. For the Bucks, an early flameout could cause Giannis Antetokounmpo to start thinking about life outside of Milwaukee, though the Warriors path to getting him at this stage is frankly a pipedream. Never say never in the NBA, though.

More interesting is the state of the Boston Celtics, who are staring at some big luxury tax bills over the next couple of years. The most expendable piece is defensive terror Marcus Smart, who would fit very nicely into the Warriors defensive scheme and also happily their $17.2m traded player exception (TPE).

This game serves as a juicy scouting experience, seeing Smart in action against the best team in the league, and providing an early yardstick of how the Bucks might look in the bubble.

Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs (August 2nd)

If the Bucks and Celtics are a marquee matchup, this one’s slightly further down the list. But Memphis are exactly the sort of team who might need to shed some salary in the NBA’s new financial reality, and former Kyle Anderson would be a low-key option for the Warriors TPE who could help their playmaking depth and be able to do some of the things Shaun Livingston used to.

On the other side Rudy Gay is probably the most straightforward option for the TPE. This is a chance to see him in action against a young, energetic team. Can he hold up or is he on his last legs?

Two more bonuses for this one – the game should have a bit of an edge as it will matter to both teams. Memphis are trying to hold on to the 8th seed and the Spurs are trying to barge their way into the playoff picture. Plus, you get to see Ja Morant playing basketball, which is always fun.

Indiana Pacers vs Orlando Magic (August 4th)

This is the battle of the “bridge candidates”. The Pacers Myles Turner and the Magic’s Aaron Gordon are probably the best players the Warriors could get with their TPE. Both earn slightly over the $17.2m limit, so the Warriors would have to trade for another player and then flip them for Gordon or Turner. But either could really help the Warriors push back into contention next season and beyond, and both could be gettable for the right price. This is a good chance to see them facing off.

Miami Heat vs Phoenix Suns (August 8th)

This might not seem the most glamorous matchup on the schedule. But there are a bunch of potential Warriors targets taking the court in this one.

Warriors fans can relive the glory years of Iguodala matching up against an All-Star guard in Devin Booker while keeping an eye out for how much he’s got left in the tank. That’s not an entirely idle pursuit either. Thanks to the extension Iguodala signed when he joined the Heat, he could be an option for the Warriors TPE vacancy if they can make it interesting enough for Miami.

On the other end Aron Baynes, who is a free agent in October, could be a sneaky good pickup for the Warriors. He’s an experienced big body who can match up against burlier centers, rebound and play defense, and now has suddenly started shooting threes. All things the Warriors will need next season.

Other players to keep an eye on include young wing Kelly Oubre Jr and veteran point guard Ricky Rubio on the Phoenix Suns, and Miami’s stretch-5 Kelly Oynyk. None may be ideal fits for the Warriors, or indeed worth the potential luxury tax hit involved in using the TPE, but all could be options if Golden State is willing to spend and can’t find something better before the exception expires.

Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers (August 12th)

There’s so much going on in this one. On the surface it’s a chance to see some potential Warrior free agency targets. Marc Gasol may be worth a lot more than the taxpayer Mid Level Exception (MLE), but in a likely depressed market with few teams with capspace and everyone worrying about luxury tax bills, he’s not out of the realms of possibility for the Warriors. A grizzled, defensive ace, who has an array of skills on the offensive end, he’d be a perfect fit for Steve Kerr’s Warriors. He may be on the downside of his career, but you have to think Gasol is one of the few players who is definitively worth the extra tax hit the Warriors would have to pay if they use their taxpayer MLE.

On the other end the 76ers are staring luxury tax hell right in the face. As a result Josh Richardson might be a potential candidate for the Warriors TPE. Then there’s Glenn Robinson III, who made a lot of friends in Golden State before he was traded ahead of the trade deadline to help duck the repeater tax. In the current financial climate he might not be worth the full taxpayer MLE but he’s worth keeping tabs on.

Under the surface, this game is fascinating. The defending champion Raptors have been better than anyone expected. The 76ers have not looked like the contender they were hyped up to be. There’s real potential for strife in Philadelphia if they get bounced early, and then who knows who might be on the block. The Warriors, with two lottery picks over the next two drafts to play with and an always aggressive mindset will certainly be monitoring developments.