Following a disappointing, injury-riddled 2019-2020 campaign, the Golden State Warriors are set to reemerge from the depths of the NBA’s abyss– even without Klay Thompson.
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Barring an unforeseen move, the Warriors’ player pool for the upcoming season is set. The biggest swings came in the form of acquiring Kelly Oubre Jr. and drafting James Wiseman, who will be receiving the lion’s share of starts with Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green.
A few moves were made to bolster the bench for Steve Kerr, who has relied on his secondary contributors heavily throughout his Warrors tenure. Since the glory days of the 2015-17 bench squad, Golden State has been trying to pick up the pieces, and this problem came to a head in the 2019 Finals when their depth was completely exposed.
Last season gave some hope of returning to that standard of bench superiority and lots of the returnees will contribute heavily. So how will this bench look, and how efficiently can they hold the line for the starting 5?
Guards
Brad Wanamaker
GM Bob Myers was willing to dip into the mid-level exception to bring Brad to the bay. After Steph went down last season, it was painfully obvious the young stable of Warriors guards couldn’t cut it yet.
The addition of Wanamaker and release of Ky Bowman show they aren’t willing to take that risk again. Brad brings a stable presence behind Steph, and though he won’t wow with the ball in his hands, he’s off-ball capable and brings a steady defensive presence. His strength and fast hands make him a formidable live-ball turnover creator for a team that will rely on transition opportunities.
The West is loaded with scoring bench guards, and if the Warriors make the playoffs, they’ll likely face some combination of Lou Williams, Dennis Schröder, Jordan Clarkson and Monte Morris along the way. Having a full 48 minutes of above-average point guard defense (health permitting) would go a long way towards making a deep run.
Jordan Poole
Drafted for his skill as a shooter, Poole struggled mightily last season from the arc. He lost his confidence completely at times, passing up wide-open looks that the staff was begging him to take. He predictably struggled as a defender, as his wiry frame and lack of instinct hurt him at Michigan as well. Poole did show well as a playmaker with the ball in his hands, getting into the lane for finishes and some slick passes.
However, Kerr’s most recent comments indicate Poole may not leave the bench some nights, which probably solidifies him as the fifth guard in the rotation. Hopefully a lower-pressure role this season can help him form a more consistent game night-to-night and leverage that into a bigger role next season, if not sooner.
Nico Mannion
Mannion was a popular first-round mock choice until he actually showed up on the court for Arizona. Though a skilled passer, he wasn’t enough of a threat as a scorer to be considered a first-round talent. The Warriors took a gamble that he provides enough scoring and defense to be a ball-moving backup point guard down the road. With the expanded number of days two-way players can spend with the big club, Mannion could see some run in garbage time, but questions surrounding the G-League could make it a tough year to get a read on what kind of NBA prospect he could be.
Mychal Mulder
One of the G-League’s most consistent snipers last season, Mulder showed that skill could carve him out a future role. The Warriors have too many capable guards to find him a consistent role this upcoming season, and he may not be the choice for one of the last roster spots. But the Dubs should feel encouraged by his development, and more seasoning in the G-League would do him some good in the long run.
Wings
Damion Lee
Lee has slowly climbed his way up the Warriors’ depth chart the past two seasons with quality shooting and offensive efficiency. He’s not much of a defensive asset, but he adds some scoring punch to a bench that otherwise lacks. His three-year, $4.5M deal with few guarantees is a great value for a team looking to replace some of the value lost with Klay’s Achilles tear.
Lee and Wanamaker figure to be the primary backups at the guard spots, but he could be in the mix at the three in some matchups if the Warriors need to go smaller. The Dubs will be counting on Lee to be at or above his 36.5% mark from deep with the Warriors for the team to space the floor without Steph on the court.
Kent Bazemore
Depending on how Oubre and Wiggins are deployed when not playing with the starters, Baze could see a lot of minutes at either the 2 or the 3 in his return to the Bay. He’s out of the shadow of being one of the Sour ’16 contracts now and has developed a more capable shooting game since his last stint with the Warriors to complement his steady defense. His disruptive length and athleticism address a major weak spot from last season, and he should be one of the top 3-4 minute hogs off the bench if his play stays consistent.
He’s no splash add at this point in his career, but quality depth on the wing is what this squad was lacking.
Juan Toscano-Anderson
The Mexican national and Castro Valley native was one of the more unlikely surprises from last season’s dumpster fire. What he can do on the offensive side of the ball is still a question mark, but his energy is infectious, and he can be a quality wing stopper. He seems to be the likely candidate for the second two-way spot, and Steve Kerr could use him in defensive spots here and there. Having a pure defensive option on the wing could be a valuable chess piece in what should be an intense season, where each play will matter more.
Bigs
Eric Paschall
Easily the biggest surprise from last season’s rookie class, Paschall projects as the primary scoring option off the bench for this iteration of the Dubs. There were some concerning signs with his defense and shooting, but his ability to hit the glass and score with the ball in his hands make him a huge weapon for this bench unit. His development as a passer towards the end of the season will help offset the lack of playmaking from the lead bench guards.
Paschall and the Warriors’ staff tinkered with his shooting mechanics at times, and though he was initially uncomfortable with his new release, it appears far smoother this offseason. Increasing his efficiency as a playmaker and shooter while applying his bulldog mentality to defensive rotations could put him squarely in the 6th Man of the Year conversation and make him the player the Warriors need to break opposing defenses in crunch time. Even if he can’t build significantly on last year, he should be a major contributor barring unforeseen regression.
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Marquese Chriss
Chriss proved a worthy reclamation project last season, and his commitment to playing on the interior paid off for him and the team. His energy on the glass and above-the-rim play are what this system needs offensively from the five spot. The defense still leaves a lot to be desired, and he just doesn’t affect shots the way a starting center should be able to with his wiry frame.
His energy and youth leave room for growth on both ends of the floor, but they’re perfectly comfortable with him as an energy big off the bench. He may see some starts early in the season before Kerr feels comfortable enough with Wiseman, but the Warriors would be in trouble if Chriss starts for the majority of the season without improving his defense.
Kevon Looney
Another center who fits their scheme to a T, Looney has been betrayed by his body his entire career. Though he showcases some nice touch offensively and plays within himself on both ends of the court, he can’t be counted on to be healthy. If Looney can give them 10 good minutes a night, it would be a huge win.
But the more likely scenario is his health continues to hold him back, and he plays bit minutes while healthy before the Warriors consider moving him and his salary elsewhere. It’s a shame to see a player with his ability ensure what he does, but the Dubs have to play the cards they’ve been dealt.
Alen Smailagic
Kent Lacob’s Prince That Was Promised didn’t exactly deliver in limited action during his first year. The G-League star proved overmatched last year due to his lack of strength and carryover of his offensive game. He has an intriguing skill set for a big, but needs to develop a more consistent two-way game to be a reliable contributor.
Smiley can do a bit of everything for a big, but the lack of mastery at any one facet of his game makes him an unreliable contributor as things stand. Though he may be the fifth or sixth big in the rotation, his contract likely keeps him on the roster, meaning opportunities to develop on the court could be few and far between.
How high can this bench take them?
With a strong starting 5 locked in, the bench could be the tipping point for this Warriors season. Bringing in a couple key vets to add consistency was a major need, but the youth on this squad provides a lot of question marks, especially in the frontcourt.
The glory days of the Dubs’ bench mob involved seasoned bigs that were known quantities, but the upside of Paschall, Chriss and Wiseman alone gives them an element of unexpectedness they haven’t had in a while. Paschall’s production alone should make them an average unit, but how the rest of the players fit determines how far they can really go.
If things break well, the steady hands of Wanamaker, Lee and Bazemore 1-3 combined with the rebounding, scoring and energy of Paschall and Chriss could make this a top-five bench unit. Tertiary contributions from Poole, Toscano-Anderson, Looney and Smailagic could even push them to the top if they play well enough to fit a role.
There’s also a scenario where none of the five main options can crack 36% from deep, and the lack of shooting and playmaking hampers an otherwise skilled offensive unit. The unknown of Paschall and Chriss’ defense in the paint could also hold them back. A lack of consistency from the end of the bench means injuries would be magnified in their cost.
Compared to the 2019-2020 season, the Warriors’ depth looks far better. The bench seems more likely to be a strength than a weakness, and Kerr’s rotations will be something to keep an eye on at the start of the season. How they can mix in with the starters will be interesting to watch as well. It’s gong to be a long road to get back to the 2016 heyday, but this offseason marked some big steps towards reaching that lofty standard again.
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