Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors changed the complexion of the NBA forever. The Warriors are now the clear super team and obvious sports betting favorite to win an NBA championship but even with Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green they could certainly afford to add some more depth. That could mean a decision to bring in some veteran players to fill out the remainder of their lineup and it will be interesting to see if the chance to win an NBA championship is enough to convince some retired veterans to make a comeback. Here is a look at four players the Warriors should attempt to lure out of retirement this season.
Ray Allen
The 40-year-old Allen has made no secret of the fact that he wants to make a return to the NBA this season and Golden State would clearly be the perfect fit. The 18-year veteran took a year off after playing for two years and winning another championship with the Miami Heat but the consensus is that he could still play at a high level. After all, Allen’s game is built around his shooting ability and he has had an entire year off to let his body rest and recover. Allen is a career-.400 three-point shooter and he would be an excellent fit coming off the bench for Golden State this season. Not that they really need more three-point shooting, but imagine them spreading the floor with Curry, Durant, Thompson, Green and Allen. They would be lethal from beyond the arc with that type of setup…assuming Allen still has his game.
Shawn Marion
The four-time NBA All-Star called it quits in June but could be tempted to come out of retirement if it means a chance to add another championship ring. Marion averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game over 57 appearances for the Cleveland Cavaliers two years ago and like Allen a full year off could really help in terms of being fresh for a new season. Marion’s three-point shooting is the strength of his game and Golden State could still use him in a depth role coming off the bench to spread the floor as part of their second unit.
Jermaine O’Neal
O’Neal played his last NBA game for the Warriors in 2014-15 when he averaged 7.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game. Staying healthy was always an issue for O’Neal throughout his NBA career but he could be a capable addition off the bench in the right situation. Golden State might still represent the perfect fit for O’Neal if he wanted to play a depth role as a veteran big man and get one more opportunity to compete for an NBA championship. Remember that the Warriors lost a lot up front with Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli leaving to sign with other teams. The Warriors did bring in Zaza Pachulia on the cheap and he’ll be the team’s starting center, but he doesn’t offer the rim protection that Bogut did. O’Neal is a decent shot blocker and might be a nice add to round out the roles for this squad.
Stephen Jackson
Jackson averaged just 11.9 minutes per game in nine contests for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013-14 before deciding to retire, but his name has come up as a potential option for the Warriors if they decided they needed a veteran big man presence. Jackson is clearly well past his prime but he averaged 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 55 games for the San Antonio Spurs in 2012-13. Why he might be a decent fit is he would bring some toughness and grit to a team that might be lacking some of that. Of course, the Warriors have Draymond Green, but they lost a lot of muscle. Jackson could come in and add a bit of that toughness off the bench. He wouldn’t be capable of playing huge minutes but there wouldn’t be a lot for him anyway. If he is healthy, there is a good chance he could still contribute at the end of Golden State’s bench, kind of how Dahntay Jones
