The Golden State Warriors have been searching for a stretch-5 all summer, but with Jonathan Kuminga’s contract negotiations dragging into August, their options have shrunk. Boston has now signed Chris Boucher believed to be Golden State’s fallback choice leaving the Warriors with just one realistic target.
Golden State finished last season strongly, going 22-5 with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green in the lineup, upsetting the No. 2 seed before falling to Minnesota after Curry’s injury. However, pairing Green and Butler requires the rest of the team to be reliable shooters, making a floor-spacing big man essential.
Veteran Al Horford is considered the Warriors’ top target thanks to his shooting, defense, playoff experience, and playmaking. The team can only offer him the $5.7 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, and while reports suggest he’s likely to sign, uncertainty remains he could choose to retire, stay in Atlanta, or re-sign with Boston.
Boucher, who began his career with the Warriors and later won a title with Toronto, would have offered less consistency than Horford but still could have been a valuable addition. With his market value dipping to the minimum, the Celtics swooped in and signed him, likely as a frontcourt replacement for Horford.
The Warriors now face increased urgency to secure Horford and resolve Kuminga’s contract to avoid further setbacks. Boucher’s move is a reminder that the rest of the league won’t wait for Golden State to finish its business.
