The Golden State Warriors have agreed with forward Dario Saric on a veteran minimum contract, according to reports. That checks off a prioritized box for general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. in his first foray into NBA free agency leading the Warriors’ front office.
Saric, 29, is a 6-foot-10 stretch forward who fits perfectly in head coach Steve Kerr’s scheme. In his 10-year career, Saric has proven to be a big that can move the ball in a motion offense and pose a legitimate threat as a 3-point shooter.
There were rumors that Saric had his eye on joining the Miami Heat should they land Damian Lillard in a trade, but his seamless fit with Golden State is likely a reason why Saric agreed to terms on a veteran minimum — which should slot him in at approximately $2.7 million for the season.
“All we’re going to be able to have is minimums, so we have to work with that,” Dunleavy said on draft night. “We’re looking at veteran players who can fit into our rotation. Shooting is always a premium, two-way play is always a premium and it’s obvious we need to add size and skill, specifically shooting, I think would go a long way in complementing our frontcourt.”
The Phoenix Suns traded Saric last season to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a mid-season swap for Darius Bazley. Saric helped lead a blossoming, younger Thunder team to the final spot in the West play-in tournament, where they beat the New Orleans Pelicans in their first game before being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Suns moved on from Saric because he isn’t a traditional rim-protecting big. The Warriors aren’t looking for tradition, but more a scoring threat in the frontcourt. That weakness became apparent as they were smothered by length last season — particularly against Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. Saric averaged 6.4 points last season, shooting 39% from 3 on 2.3 attempts per game. He also averaged 9.3 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Those numbers are similar to Otto Porter Jr.’s key contributions as a stretch big for the Warriors in their 2021-22 championship run.
Saric had an ACL injury that cost him the entire 2020-2021 season in which Phoenix made the NBA Finals.
Saric’s addition to the team comes on the heels of the Warriors signing Draymond Green to a four-year, $100 million deal, trading Jordan Poole and two second-year players for 38-year-old Chris Paul and adding veteran point guard Cory Joseph in free agency. The Warriors now have 13 of their 15 roster spots filled. Their moves signal they are going all in on their championship window by leaning on veteran experience over youth.
