The Golden State Warriors haven’t but taken a single step in a free company, however they could have made one other worthy signature this week due to one of many worst League groups.
Charlotte’s Hornets have Candy defensive Josh Okogie After omitting a buying and selling companion for the 26 -year -old participant earlier than his $ 7.7 million contract for subsequent season is totally assured. Consequently, Okogie now arrives on the free company market the place it may present the Warriors with a youthful and doubtless higher different to Gary Payton II.
Josh Okogie could possibly be the best substitute of Gary Payton II
Payton himself stays a free agent with out restriction, having not signed a contract with Golden State or elsewhere for the reason that opening of the interval greater than two weeks in the past. Maybe the 32-year-old man is simply ready for the Warriors to resolve the way forward for Jonathan Kuminga earlier than re-signing with the franchise, however there may be additionally an opportunity that Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the entrance workplace might be able to go from Payton as they did together with his beloved veteran colleague Kevon Looney.
Okogie could possibly be a barely bigger model of Payton within the Warrior system, offering them with the perimeter and the protection of the wings of which they’re at the moment missing on a listing that is still with solely 9 gamers.
Okogie has a number of of the identical offensive limitations as Payton, however may turn into an equally clever cutter who can make the most of the gravity of Stephen Curry and the creation of Jimmy Butler.
He won’t ever be totally revered as an exterior shooter, however Okogie has made slight enhancements on this space after having drawn lower than 30% of the three -point vary through the first 4 years of his profession. He pulled northern 30% in every of the final three years, and lately made a profession summit of 34.8% final season, together with 38.1% in his 25 video games with the Phoenix Suns.
In 40 video games with the Suns and Hornets final season, Okogie has a median of seven.1 factors, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 interceptions per sport. It’s the defensive that might make him an actual distinction producer, the figures for final season counsel that he’s a greater possibility than Payton at this stage regardless of the sport for 2 groups associated to the lottery.
Okogie saved opponents lower than 44% of prosecution final season, together with an extremely low degree of 17.7% on the three factors. Alternatively, the opponents pulled 47.7% of the soil and 37.2% past the arc when he’s saved by Payton.
Not one of the two gamers could also be a assured half within the rotation of Steve Kerr, and Payton has the sentimental consider his favor, however Okogie could possibly be an improve that the Warriors at the moment are taking a look at that the Hornets have let him enter.
