I get that he’s frustrating at times. I know Warriors fans have slandered his name on Twitter for months.
But re-signing Zaza Pachulia actually makes a lot of sense for Golden State’s immediate future.
There are several dominoes that will have to fall first in order to tell if Bob Myers can afford to bring back the 7-foot center. Andre Iguodala, the Warriors’ top offseason priority in free agency, could hold meetings for several days and delay his decision. Myers will be handcuffed to other moves until he knows Iguodala’s status. If he leaves, the Warriors will have more salary cap room than they originally thought. The free agent ring-chasing list for big men is also attractive (Zach Randolph, Nene).
But if Iguodala does re-sign on an affordable deal — thanks to Kevin Durant delaying his max contract — and Myers has the wiggle room, Pachulia should be in the cards for the Warriors to bring back. A one-year contract extension would reportedly go for $3.5 million. The Warriors could find a better basketball player for that money, but they probably won’t find a more valuable one.
There is no greater evidence of Pachulia’s worth than what he did to Tristan Thompson the first three games of the NBA Finals. Pachulia’s bodying style of defense silenced the normally frenzied Thompson. Cleveland’s center pulled down just 11 rebounds in the first three games of the series. Steve Kerr called Pachulia an unsung hero. He averaged only 13.2 minutes per game in June, but his playing time was meaningful.
Even though the Cavaliers are staring turmoil smack in the face, short-term moves the Warriors make in free agency are still about beating LeBron James’ team. He’s been to seven straight NBA Finals. He’s getting back there again in June of 2018, no matter who the Celtics get. And, who knows, Thompson may end up getting traded at some point. But if he doesn’t, bringing back Pachulia leaves a strong chess piece on Golden State’s board in a matchup against Cleveland. That matters more than anything.
Of course Pachulia needs to be paired with other backups. Getting back both David West (possible retirement?) and JaVale McGee (deserves to cash-in) seems unrealistic. It’s also worth mentioning a season in the D-League should help Damian Jones, 22, tremendously. He’ll be ready for a regular rotation spot next season and deserves playing time with his raw athleticism. He theoretically could fill McGee’s role.
It’s understood that Pachulia is a little clumsy. From time to time, he’s going to commit a turnover that’ll make you want to rip your hair out. A few games out of the 82, Kerr will have to pull him early from the starting lineup. He’s a polished veteran, but he’s got flaws. That’s okay. Pachulia carries out his role: banging bodies in the post to start the game and providing physicality. His knockdown of Russell Westbrook in January won him a ton of points with teammates and the fan base. Pachulia is adored in the locker room. He and Klay Thompson surprisingly have a close off-the-court relationship.
If the Warriors can get their hands on Randolph, then great. His bulldog mentality and scoring prowess would team up seamlessly with Draymond Green. It would make a 67-win defending champion somehow even more frightening next season.
But Golden State could do a whole lot worse than Pachulia at center. They know how he fits now. They know what they are getting. His role, however subtle it may seem, contributed to a championship last season. End of discussion. If there’s the money to bring him back, it totally makes sense.