Should the Warriors target Deandre Ayton in free agency?

Is Ayton the type of center who can help the Dubs get over the top again?

The Warriors’ center problem is like that persistent rattle in your car. You can ignore it for a while, turn the music up louder, even convince yourself it’s just character. But eventually, that sucker’s going to leave you stranded on the side of the road.

Deandre Ayton’s sudden availability after a buyout with Portland feels like the basketball gods serving up a seven-foot answer to Golden State’s most obvious weakness. But is this the real deal or just another mirage in the desert of Warriors big man futility?

The Problem Is Real (And Getting Worse)

Let’s not pretend this is complicated. Per NBC Sports in the season finale, with a guaranteed playoff berth at stake, the Warriors were outrebounded 42-25 while getting roasted by the Los Angeles Clippers. Ivica Zubac, LA’s 7-foot center, grabbed 17 rebounds – which is basically as many as the Dubs starting lineup that game.

That’s not small-ball innovation. That’s getting your lunch money taken by the class bully.

The Warriors outrebounded opponents only three times in 13 postseason games (NBA play-in tournament included). Three times! Against Minnesota in that soul-crushing Game 5 elimination, 31 of the Timberwolves’ 49 field goals were dunks or layups, driving 62.8-percent shooting from the field that ended Golden State’s season.

Enter Deandre Ayton: The Good, The Bad, and The Complicated

Here’s what you get with Ayton: a legitimate 26-year-old who averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists last season despite playing for a franchise-killing Portland situation. He’s the first person since Dwight Howard to average at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in each of his first seven NBA seasons.

The former No. 1 pick has proven he can perform on the biggest stage – he was a key piece of Phoenix’s 2021 NBA Finals run, playing alongside Chris Paul and Devin Booker in a system that actually maximized his strengths.

But here’s the rub: His two-year tenure in Portland was marred by tardiness, tantrums and injuries. He played only 40 games this past season, less than half.

Honestly I’m not sure if Ayton is really a read-and-react, off-ball moving, connection-passing big man, but he does warrant defensive attention inside. That could give Steph Curry precious extra space around the perimeter...something the Warriors desperately need as Curry’s championship window narrows.

The financial piece is chef’s kiss beautiful. Since Portland is eating most of his contract in the buyout, Ayton is free to sign with any team despite earning greater than $14.1M+. The Warriors could potentially land a starting-caliber center for the mid-level exception.

But here’s where it gets dicey. Though he doesn’t really fit the mold of a Warriors-style player under Steve Kerr, their up-and-down 2025-26 campaign suggests they may need a bet on raw talent. Can this coaching staff, which has historically demanded high basketball IQ and seamless system integration, suddenly make things work with a player who’s been labeled difficult?

The reality check? Getting back into the championship picture means taking note of the four teams in the conference finals. All have a presence in the paint. The New York Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. The Indiana Pacers: Myles Turner, the league’s best floor spacer/rim protector. The Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren. The Timberwolves: Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.

Ayton represents legitimate size, playoff experience, and a skill set that translates to winning basketball when properly utilized. The question isn’t whether he’d make the Warriors better. It’s whether this particular marriage can overcome both parties’ documented baggage.

The Verdict: Calculated Risk Worth Taking

In a shallow free agent market Ayton represents the kind of swing the Warriors might take. He’s young enough to fit their timeline, talented enough to matter in big games, and cheap enough to maintain roster flexibility.

The alleged character concerns? Real but manageable in Golden State’s veteran-heavy culture. The system fit? Imperfect but workable when you’re getting elite-level talent at bargain prices.

Sometimes the best move isn’t the cleanest one. Sometimes you take the rattle-prone sports car over the reliable Honda Civic because the ceiling matters more than the floor.

For a Warriors team that’s spent years getting pushed around by bigger, stronger opponents, Ayton isn’t just a center: he’s a statement that this championship window isn’t closed.

The golden question is whether both sides are wise enough to make it work.