The Golden State Warriors are fresh off of a championship, in which they dominated the regular season and found an easier path than anticipated to the Finals. They were an extremely deep team, loaded with the league’s MVP, a top shooting guard, and several elite defenders scattered around their lineup. Most of their core is locked up for years, but they did have to make several moves in free agency. There were not any surprises, but bringing back Draymond Green and Leandro Barbosa makes this a successful free agency for the organization.

Green is arguably the heart and soul of this team, constantly making plays to pump up his teammates. He is one of the league’s most versatile defenders, capable of matching up with big men and perimeter players, allowing the defense to switch often and create a lot of turnovers. He does not back down from anyone, and is still young enough to improve. His outside shooting continues to get better, and he is a good enough playmaker to make teams pay for doubling Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson off of screens.

Barbosa might not be as big of a signing, but he was an important member of a bench unit that helped the Warriors win the championship. He still provides a scoring spark, and fits very well next to Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala. He also provides insurance should Curry or Thompson be out for an extended period.

The Warriors did not make many moves, but signing Green to a larger contract was a good decision, especially with the cap increase in the next couple of seasons. He was a valuable member of the starting unit, and can compete with a variety of players on defense. His versatility and expanding offensive game makes the team that much more dangerous, and he should get better every season. Bringing back Barbosa was also smart, as he proved last season that he can still give the team a boost. Even with the limited free agent signings, this team should continue to be an elite contender for years to come.

2015 Free Agency Grade: A