![\"Golden](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2328,h_1309\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/GettyImages\/mmsport\/41\/01k192b497e05bvv9k60.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Nearly a full month after the official dawn of free agency, the Golden State Warriors are still without the center many expected them to sign. A laundry list of names have been linked to Golden State, but as it currently stands, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post are set to offer the only source of support to Draymond Green at the 5-spot.<\/p>\n
Thankfully for the Warriors, a new opportunity to sign a player fans are quite familiar with has arisen, as Nikola Vucevic appears to be the next big name headed to the buyout market.<\/p>\n
Vucevic, 34, has become one of more polarizing names in trade discussions. He offers high-level production from a modern 5, but concerns over his defensive acumen have resulted in a surprisingly quiet summer for the two-time All-Star.<\/p>\n
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the lack of an ideal market for Vucevic has created the realistic possibility that he could agree to a buyout instead of waiting out a trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve been talking about how there hasn\u2019t been much of a market for Nikola Vucevic all along, dating back to last trade deadline. I think at this juncture, we\u2019re probably more likely to see a Nikola Vucevic buyout mid-season than we are to see a trade.\u201d<\/p>\n
In turn, one of the Warriors’ longest-speculated targets at center could become available for a fraction of the price they were once expected to have to pay\u2014if they wait for a maybe.<\/p>\n
Fischer notes that Vucevic could be a midseason buyout candidate, thus meaning the Warriors may need to wait several months before bringing him aboard. That puts the front office in a complicated position as far as what it’s next move should be.<\/p>\n
Golden State could attempt to wait out the Chicago Bulls and scoop Vucevic up via the buyout market, but it may be sacrificing other valid options in the process.<\/p>\n
That includes long-rumored target Al Horford, who would fit well with the team in place\u2014albeit at 39 years of age. Horford is a former NBA champion and a player heralded for having a team-first mentality and a level of defensive acumen that has superceded his athletic decline.<\/p>\n
One might even argue that Horford is a better fit for the Warriors based on his style of play, postseason experience, and superior defensive abilities.<\/p>\n
Signing Horford is far from an inevitability, however, which makes renewed interest in Vucevic a viable option. Jackson-Davis and Post could provide sufficient value in the short term, with the latter even displaying similar offensive characteristics to Vucevic.<\/p>\n
In 2024-25, Post finished with rookie-year averages of 8.1 points and 1.7 three-point field goals made in just 16.3 minutes per game, shooting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n
Vucevic, meanwhile, is a proven commodity coming off of a season in which he averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 three-point field goals made on .530\/.402\/.805 shooting. That level of production would certainly alleviate some of the offensive workload from Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry.<\/p>\n
One simply can’t help but wonder if the Warriors can afford to wait until the season has begun to address the need for improvement at center.<\/p>\n Nearly a full month after the official dawn of free agency, the Golden State Warriors are still without the center many expected them to sign. A laundry list of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":83989,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n