The Golden State Warriors flamed out of the NBA Playoffs at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Warriors beat the Houston Rockets in seven games in the Western Conference First Round and won Game 1 of the Semifinals against the Timberwolves.
Unfortunately, Stephen Curry suffered a hamstring injury and did not play in any of the four consecutive defeats after that.
Bobby Marks and Kendrick Perkins recently spoke about what the Warriors need to add in the offseason to contend next year.
Perkins pointed out that the teams in the Conference Finals all have quality big men, and that’s the Warriors’ biggest weakness.
Steve Kerr handed minutes to Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kevon Looney, and Quinten Post, but none of them would ideally be in their playoff rotation.
Perkins urged the Warriors to address the issue in the summer to have any chance of contending in the 2025-26 season.
“I think they’re missing a big, right now,” Perkins explained. “They need a guy who is going to go out there and get 15 points and 12 rebounds per night.
“Think about all the teams that are still playing right now. The Knicks have Karl-Anthony Towns. Indiana have Myles Turner. Obviously, Denver have Jokic. OKC have Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.
“You’ve got to get somebody in the middle, not just defensively. A dynamic roller. When was the last time Steph played with a lob threat?”
Marks thinks the Warriors will likely go after Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez in free agency.
Lopez is still a solid NBA player despite being 37 years old, averaging 13 points per game this season, and he should be relatively cheap.
“One player to keep an eye on regarding that center position is Brook Lopez,” Marks said. “Stamford grad, makes his home in Fresno. What is the number on a one-year flyer here to patch up that center position.
“The center market is thin. You look at Myles Turner, you’re probably not going to afford him, the next best guy out there is Brook Lopez.”
Perkins responded: “I don’t think that moves the needle. Brook Lopez still loves to hang out on the perimeter. He’s never been an excellent rebounder. I think he averages five [per game] for his career. You need a Daniel Gafford, that type of athleticism, I wonder what his ticket looks like.”
