Dub Hub: Draymond Green explains physical ‘toll’ of starting at center

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Tuesday, May 27th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• In a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis, Green explains the physical “toll” it takes on him to start at center for the Warriors.
• Steph Curry joins LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as third player over 37 years old to make an All-NBA team.
• Thunder win Game 4 over the Timberwolves, 128-126, to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals.

The center position figures to be a major area of focus for the Golden State Warriors this offseason. While Kevon Looney, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Quinten Post all saw minutes at the five this past year, it was clear the Warriors’ best lineups consistently featured Draymond Green starting at center.

Although Green held his own—earning another All-Defensive First Team selection—head coach Steve Kerr understands that relying on him to anchor the defense as their starting center isn’t sustainable over an entire season.

On a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis, Green acknowledged the toll that role takes on his body and thanked Kerr for recognizing it.

Green, 35 years old, enters his 14th season in the NBA next year. He remains the defensive heartbeat of the team, but the Warriors would be wise to reduce his workload by adding more size to the roster—especially if they hope to stay competitive throughout the regular season and keep him fresh for the playoffs.

Having said that, Golden State has several avenues to address the need this summer. Beyond their current rotation, the Warriors could explore free agent big men such as Steven Adams, Brook Lopez, or Al Horford. They may also consider a more ambitious route through players on the trade market including Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls, Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets, or Goga Bitadze of the Orlando Magic.

However they choose to approach it, finding a dependable big man to ease Green’s workload will be a key part of this offseason if the Warriors hope to maximize their window with this core.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, May 27th:

Warriors News:

NBA free agent rankings: Futures of LeBron, Turner, more stars | ESPN

Possible fits: Turner has featured in trade rumors so long that he has been linked to just about every team in need of a starting center. A sign-and-trade would be complicated for the Warriors and the Lakers, but both franchises are clear fits in the unlikely event the Pacers and Turner can’t strike a deal.

Steph Curry third player over the age of 37 to make an All-NBA team

Why Draymond disagrees with Kerr’s comments about Kuminga’s role | NBC Sports Bay Area

“But also in saying that, when you look at Steve, one thing that he’s shown as a coach is he’s going to make the decision that’s best regardless of what it comes with,” he said. “We’re talking about the same man — the same legend — that didn’t play Jayson Tatum in the Olympics and dealt with all the flak that came with that, but at the end, to his point, his ultimate goal is to win. And they won the gold medal.

“So here, I understand what he’s saying. I don’t necessarily agree because we just haven’t seen it and seen much of it to actually know if it does work.”

NBA Scout Says Best Thing for Jonathan Kuminga is Warriors ‘Sign-and-Trade’ Him | Bleacher Report

One NBA scout isn’t sure the Golden State Warriors are the ideal setting for young forward Jonathan Kuminga as he heads toward restricted free agency.

“The best thing that happens to him is if they sign-and-trade him,” the scout said to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.

Steph Curry competes in three-point contest for the most recent Mr. Beast video

NBA News:

Jalen Williams keys Game 4 win as Thunder go up 3-1 on Wolves | ESPN

According to ESPN Research, the 95 points combined by Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren are the most by a Thunder trio in a playoff game since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. Gilgeous-Alexander considers that production a glimpse of what’s to come.

“It still has so much more room to grow, which is the scary part,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’m 26, which seems old. They’re 23 and 24. They haven’t even gotten close to hitting their prime yet. Both of them are just out there playing on feel and their talent. I’m excited for the future.”

Monday Best: All the latest NBA free agency and trade talk | The Stein Line

League sources say Dallas is expected to at least explore whether there are any feasible trade pathways to Boston’s Jrue Holiday — complicated as that would likely be given the three years and $104 million still left on Holiday’s contract — while also maintaining an interest in a far more reasonable trade target as we’ve discussed on the DLLS Mavs podcast: Lonzo Ball.

Chicago signed Ball to a two-year, $20 million contract extension in February (with a team option in Year 2) in a nod to his notable influence in the Bulls’ locker room, but the deal is regarded by many around the league as quite tradeable given what the 27-year-old showed this season he can still deliver at both ends when healthy.

NBA allows Tyrese Haliburton’s father to attend Pacers’ Game 4 home matchup against the Knicks on Tuesday

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Steve Kerr reveals what Erik Spoelstra told him after the Jimmy Butler trade

“Erik Spoelstra told me immediately, ‘He’s going to be great for you.’ And I know Spo really well from the last couple of summers and I trust him,” Kerr told Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show,” per NBC Sports Bay Area. “I believed him and he was right. Within a couple of days of his arrival, Jimmy was so easy to speak with.”

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.