As Warriors wait for Al Horford, disinterest in Deandre Ayton feels curious originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
There was a time when the Warriors so trusted their culture they would bet on it. Confident in feel-good vibes, largely arranged by Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry, they were willing to gamble on a player whose “red flags” might deter others.
The Warriors welcomed alleged circus act JaVale McGee, who contributed to two championship teams. Then came certified slacker Nick Young, who picked up a ring. Then came reputed grump DeMarcus Cousins, knowing he’d be sidelined for five months. Once cleared, he made plays for a squad that reached the 2019 NBA Finals, where any chance of winning was crushed by injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
When acquiring Andrew Wiggins in February 2020, the Warriors placed faith in their culture to bring out the best in the widely considered underachiever – and were rewarded.
Which brings us to Deandre Ayton, and whether Golden State still believes in its culture.
The Portland Trail Blazers bought out the final year of Ayton’s contract on June 29, after which he cleared waivers and became a free agent. Numerous teams did their homework, with some reaching out to the Blazers. This is typical when a player is cast aside in his prime.
The Warriors, according to multiple league sources, were not among the teams that lined up to gauge Ayton’s interest – despite some reports stating otherwise.
Golden State’s lack of interest is curious because Ayton would have been a clear upgrade at center. The 7-foot, 250-pound Bahamian would address the team’s dearth of interior length. He runs the floor well. His midrange shooting bends defenses. He’s the only active player to average scoring/rebounding double-doubles in each of his first seven seasons, and he has career averages of 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Ayton, who turns 27 this month, brings a blend of youth and experience; he was the starting center for the 2020-21 Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns. Among the Warriors, only Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Curry have more postseason experience.
Maybe Ayton would have brushed the Warriors, fully intent on joining the Los Angeles Lakers. There was no need, according to sources, because Golden State did not actively engage.
Ayton on Sunday officially joined the Lakers, signing a two-year contract worth $16.6 million. LA gets a quality big man on a discount because Portland will pay him about $25 million in the buyout.
Could the Warriors have offered a similar contract? The taxpayer midlevel exception is available for $5.7 million. Coming up with more – with Jonathan Kuminga still on the roster – would have required roster manipulation and shedding salary. General manager Mike Dunleavy has exhibited enough creativity to suggest he probably could have found a way.
Instead, the Lakers addressed their most glaring weakness, a massive void at center. They are considerably better equipped to deal with the prevalence of interior size/length among the deep list of playoff contenders in the West:
Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren with the champion Thunder. Alperen Şengun, Steven Adams and Clint Capela with the Rockets. Nikola Jokić and (maybe) Jonas Valančiūnas with the Nuggets. Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle with the Timberwolves. Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez with the Clippers. Zach Edey with the Grizzlies. Domantas Sabonis with the Kings. Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II with the Mavericks. Victor Wembanyama with the Spurs.
That’s 17 big men, all between 6-foot-9 and 7-foot-4, with wingspans as broad as 8 feet. With 6-foot-9, 250-pound Kevon Looney the first man off Golden State’s ship this summer, the team has no veteran center to provide resistance.
As of now, the Warriors are hoping to lure unrestricted free agent Al Horford. He’s skilled, stands 6-foot-9, spreads the floor and plays both ends. He also turned 39 last month and is considering retirement. If he decides to keep playing, Golden State, according to league sources, has a strong chance to sign him.
Horford is, by all accounts, a consummate professional. Low maintenance, and a great teammate. His only red flag is age, and no culture can transform that.
Ayton, by contrast, is said to have been less than professional in Portland, with reports of frequent tardiness and occasional locker-room tantrums. His work ethic has undergone considerable scrutiny. He famously clashed with head coach Monty Williams in Phoenix. There is no doubt the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NBA draft comes with risk.
But the Warriors have recruiters on the premises culture. Buddy Hield is a fellow Bahamian and assistant coach Chris DeMarco – who has served as head coach of the national team – have known Ayton for years. Then, of course, there is Curry and Kerr.
The culture.
That typically has allowed Golden State to browse, and maybe buy. Given the current roster, all reasonable options are on the table. Not “kicking the tires” on Ayton feels like a missed opportunity. One the Warriors can only hope doesn’t haunt them.
