Five Free Agents The Defending Champion Golden State Warriors Should Target

The defending champion Golden State Warriors head into free agency with as many as eight players looking for new contracts.

We fully expect Stephen Curry to finally receive that huge payday in free agency. It will come with the Warriors at a cost of $200-plus million.

Meanwhile, reigning NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant will opt out of his contract and take less than a max so Golden State can keep its core together.

Even then, the expectation here is that Golden State will lose multiple members of a roster that ran roughshod through the competition in this year's playoffs.

Ian Clark, Shaun Livingston, David West, Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia and James Michael McAdoo are all slated to become free agents.

Sure Golden State will find a way to retain a few of these players at less-than-market cost. But others will surely be looking to cash in.

Up against the luxury tax, Golden State will only be able to add free agents on veteran minimum deals. Here's five such players the Warriors should look at when the market opens next month

Beno Udrih, Detroit Pistons

Depending on whether Shaun Livingston takes a smaller deal to remain in Oakland, the Warriors may be looking for a veteran backup to Stephen Curry.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, they are going to have to bargain shop in free agency. Already over the cap (dependent on Curry and Kevin Durant re-signing), the Warriors will only be able to offer veteran minimum deals.

That's what the team did last summer by adding key contributors Zaza Pachulia and David West, both of whom are slated to become free agents next month.

Udrih, 34, fits the mold of a potential ring chaser. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field for Detroit last season.

He's definitely limited in the minutes he can provide, but Livingston himself only averaged 17.7 minutes per game last season. Udrih would surely be a downgrade, but that's the hit you take with having two MVPs looking for new contracts.

Nick Young, Los Angeles Lakers

Young unexpectedly opted out of his contract with the Lakers last week. Considering he was set to make $10.3 million, it seems like the veteran might be looking for a winning situation.Young, 32, averaged 13.2 points and shot at a tremendous 40 percent clip from three-point range last season.

He'd be a perfect fit as a perimeter option off the bench should Andre Iguodala decide to take the money in free agency.

There's issues here in regards to Young's personality and the drama he was involved in with D'Angelo Russell last season. Though, Golden State's veteran leadership could help him turn the corner in that regard.

Young might not be the same defensive player as Iggy, but he would help Golden State overcome that potentially massive loss with an ability to score in droves off the bench.

James Johnson, Miami Heat

There's still a lot up in the air regarding Golden State. Will key veteran performer David West call it a career after winning the first title of his career?

If so, can the Warriors bank on rookie second-round pick Jordan Bell to take his spot in the rotation? Remember, James Michael McAdoo is also a free agent.

Johnson, 30, performed at an incredibly high clip for the Miami Heat this past season. In part-time starting duties, the forward averaged 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He also shot at a 48 percent clip from the field and played tremendous defense.

Vincent Frank , CONTRIBUTOR
I cover sports with a focus on the NFL.

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
We're not sure if Johnson is going to be looking to break the bank in free agency. But he's most definitely someone the Warriors should call up.