Warriors secure big free-agent pickup

The Golden State Warriors made a big move on Saturday that should be a big help to the team's quest for another NBA title.

The Warriors signed free-agent 6-foot-10 power forward Dario Saric to fill a huge need in the frontcourt, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. ESPN researcher Matt Williams noted Golden State was the only team in the NBA to not have a player taller than 6-foot-9 on its roster at the end of the season. The team traded 7-foot center James Wiseman in a four-team deal in February.

Golden State's lack of size ended up being too much for even Steph Curry to overcome in its 4-2 series loss to the Lakers. Los Angeles power forward Anthony Davis bookended that series with two 20-rebound games, the two highest-rebounding games of his postseason career.

While not an elite rebounder, Saric will at the very least give the Warriors a better shot on the boards against bigger opponents. And he'll do so without sacrificing the team's strength beyond the arc. 

Last year with the Suns and Thunder, Saric shot 39.1 percent from three, the second-best mark of his career. He's shot 36 percent on threes since entering the league in 2016-17 with Philadelphia and had his best season during his second year.

He averaged career-highs in points (14.6), rebounds (6.7) and assists (2.6) on a career-best 39.3 percent shooting from three in 2017-18. On a team with Curry, Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, Saric won't be asked to do much. He'll need to make the most out of his limited opportunities. As natural as the fit feels, it will be a surprise if it doesn't work.

That doesn't mean the Warriors should be favorites in the Western Conference entering the season. While it's tough to repeat as champions, until Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets prove otherwise, they are the team to beat in the West. The Suns, Lakers, Kings and Grizzlies are among the other Western Conference contenders that won't bend the knee for Golden State, either. 

Still, Saric is a necessary chip to balance out the Warriors' roster. The West might not run through Golden State, but the front office's offseason moves have made sure it won't be left behind.