25-42! This is the difference between the Warriors and the Timberwolves. Whether to pursue Ayton already has an answer

The center issue has plagued the Golden State Warriors for many years. They can indeed temporarily cover up the seriousness of the problem by changing to a small lineup, but in the end the issue will still erupt at some point. And after the Portland Trail Blazers bought out DeAndre Ayton, the free agent market suddenly had a viable option, which felt like the God of Basketball provided an answer to the Warriors' most obvious weakness, but should the Warriors really pursue him?

In the final game of the regular season this season, the Warriors were defeated by the Los Angeles Clippers and lost the qualification to directly advance to the playoffs. In this game, the Warriors' inside line was beaten by their opponents, with 17 rebounds losing 25-42. Clippers center Ivika Zubac grabbed 17 rebounds alone, basically as many rebounds as the Warriors' starting lineup.

The Warriors only won their opponents with rebounds (including playoffs) in the next 13 playoff games. In the fifth knockout round of the second round, the Timberwolves' 49 shots were dunks or layups, with a shooting percentage of up to 62.8%, which directly proved that the Warriors' inside defense was useless.

Ayton is only 26 years old this year. He averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season. He is the first player since Wilderte Howard to average 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first seven seasons in the NBA. The former No. 1 pick has proven that he can perform well on the biggest stage and is a key link for the Phoenix Suns to reach the NBA Finals in 2021.

But the problem is that Ayton's form has plummeted since then, and his two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers have basically no highlights due to his temper and frequent injuries in the locker room. He only played 40 games in total last season, less than half of the entire season. Therefore, evaluating Ayton's value requires comprehensive consideration of his personality, level of effort and lack of respect for the game.

There is another key point. The editor is not sure whether Ayton is really a center with reading ability, responsiveness, running without the ball, and passing ability. But his offense at the basket is still remarkable, which may provide Stephen Curry with valuable offensive space on the outside. As Curry's window to win the championship continues to narrow, the Warriors urgently need players who can provide the above-mentioned roles.

Ayton does not fully conform to the Warriors-style player model coached by Steve Cole. Will this coach who has always required a high basketball IQ allow a player like Ayton to be labeled as lazy into his system? If Ayton has a professional attitude like Chris Paul, then he would be great, but if he always holds the mentality of "I'm a top player and I have nothing to prove", then nothing else matters.

For the Warriors, the real problem is that if you want to return to the ranks of championship contenders, you need to defeat the four teams participating in the division finals this year, and these four teams have excellent inside players without exception. The New York Knicks have Carl Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, the Indiana Pacers have the league's best 3D center Miles Turner, the Oklahoma City Thunder have Isaiah Haltenstein and Chet Homegren, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.

Aiton has height and weight, playoff experience and a complete set of offensive skills under the basket, which can help them win basketball games if used properly. The question is not whether he will make the Warriors better. This answer is basically yes. The key is whether the cooperation between the two sides can overcome their respective shortcomings.

Conclusion

In a free agent market with insufficient depth, Ayton is definitely a scarce resource. He is young enough to adapt to the team's development schedule, and is talented enough to play a major role in big games and is cheap enough to maintain the flexibility of the roster.

As for the so-called personality issue, in the team culture of the Warriors that values ​​veterans, the editor thinks that risks exist but controllable. And the question of his and the Warriors' style is not particularly compatible. When the team can obtain elite players at a low price, it is not perfect, but it is also feasible.

Sometimes, the best operation is not the most obvious and feasible. Just like when the Warriors traded to Butler in February this year, the editor remembered that there was a lot of criticism at that time, but a few people could think that Butler would be so well integrated with the Warriors later. For a Warriors that have been bullied by bigger and stronger opponents for years, Ayton is not just a solution to a center position, but a statement that shows that the Warriors have not given up on Curry's final window to win.

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