Golden State Warriors Sign Former OKC Thunder Big

Though Usman Garuba didn't play for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he spent the offseason on the roster after the team traded for him.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has been smart with cap space and roster spots this offseason. They've maximized every facet of roster or cap space by bringing in players with seldom value in exchange for draft assets.

A part of the team's offseason moves was to trade for TyTy Washington Jr. and Usman Garuba. Washington was waived and later picked up by the Milwaukee Bucks, though it took time.

Garuba was waived not long after Washington and is finding his next home -- the Golden State Warriors, as reported by Charania.

Shams Charania reported the Warriors were in the market for a veteran big man, and will be meeting with veteran center Dwight Howard, who is an NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The Warriors signed Garuba to a two-way deal, offering more comfort at the big-man position by adding a young center prospect. 

Garuba is far from a finished prospect as a player. The former first-round pick spent two seasons with the rebuilding Houston Rockets, where he appeared in 99 games, tallying three starts. He played an average of 12.2 minutes per game, averaging 2.8 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game. 

Scoring efficiency has been difficult for Garuba, shooting sub-50 percent from the floor as a big man, but the Warriors will inflate that. In the scenario that he gets playing time with the main roster, he will play a screening, mobile big-man role. At 6-foot-8, 220 pounds, Garuba has the perfect frame for the role he would be playing. 

Given his size and playstyle, Garuba will be best suited in the Warriors system. The Thunder, had they kept him, wouldn't have much of a role for him. They've got other young prospects at the position that they've invested more time and picks in. 

In a perfect world, the former Rocket will find a home in Golden State and pan out to be the center he has the potential to be. 

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