Warriors look for immediate help
Trayce Jackson-Davis enjoyed a storied career at the University of Indiana, but he had a few detractors prior to the NBA Draft. Among the knocks: Jackson-Davis turned 23 in February, making him one of the oldest players in the draft, and he was considered an undersized center, although he dominated the Big Ten as a senior.
The Celtics passed on the big man in favor of Jordan Walsh. Jackson-Davis fell into the laps of the Warriors, whose No. 1 goal was to draft mature players who were ready to contribute immediately.
The Warriors had been burned by their previous plan of taking younger prospects and hoping they eventually would succeed Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. James Wiseman never quite fit in Golden State, missed the 2021-22 season with a knee injury, and eventually was traded to the Pistons to clear cap space to bring back Gary Payton II.
Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody have had moments, but the Warriors aren’t banking on them developing into cornerstones. Jordan Poole, who signed a four-year, $120 million extension last fall, was dealt to the Wizards for Chris Paul in a salary dump.
The Warriors drafted Jackson-Davis and Santa Clara shooter Brandin Podziemski with the hope both will provide support next season. Golden State isn’t expected to bring back Ty Jerome or Anthony Lamb, giving more opportunity for their draft picks to contribute.
Jackson-Davis could have entered last year’s draft but returned to the Hoosiers to refine his game under former NBA coach Mike Woodson. Jackson-Davis earned first-team All-America honors by improving his statistics across the board. The draft is unpredictable and players such as JacksonDavis, with his experience and NBAready game, could flourish quicker than first-round picks.
“I think Coach Woodson did a really good job in the sense of just showing me film, how to make plays, and was just something that I had to work on in practice,” Jackson-Davis said. “Just running through plays, seeing the options, and that’s just something I’m going to have to continue to do, especially playing with such great shooters now.”
The Warriors suffered this past season with a lack of size and rebounding, and the hope is Jackson-Davis can help Kevon Looney and Green. But for now, Jackson-Davis is trying to adjust to the NBA game.
“The speed surprised me,” he said. “Not really surprised me, but just watch it on TV and then you get out there and do it, it’s just something that you’ve got to get used to. But overall it’s been really solid. I feel like the guys brought me in right away that I’m with in summer league, so just got to continue to work.”
Layups
Summer league always brings players trying to resurrect their careers, and the Bucks will feature ex-Celtics Jabari Parker, a former No. 2 overall pick, and
Tacko Fall, the popular 7-foot-6-inch center who spent two season with Boston . . . The Kings ensured that valuable swingman Harrison Barnes would stay with the club with a three-year extension. Barnes signed before he hit free agency, and the Kings also acquired sharpshooter Chris Duarte from the Pacers for draft picks . . . On the eve of free agency, the NBA set the salary cap at $136.021 million with the salary floor being $122.418 million, the first tax apron at $172.346 million, and the second apron at $182.794. Teams who reach the second apron face heavy restrictions on signings and contract exceptions. A team that has reached the salary cap but not paying luxury taxes can offer a $12.405 million mid-level exception. A taxpayer team can offer a $5 million mid-level exception and a team with cap space can offer a $7.723 million mid-level exception. The NBA and the players’ union ratified the collective bargaining agreement and there were few surprises in the new deal. Marijuana was removed from the CBA as a drug of abuse, meaning players cannot be suspended or penalized for legal marijuana use . . . An underrated note about Kyrie Irving’s return to the Mavericks on a three-year, $123 million deal is that his agent is his stepmother,
Shetellia Riley Irving, the first Black woman to execute an NBA contract as a registered agent. Irving has been through several agents but signed with his stepmother last year and was rewarded with the lucrative contract he desired despite heavy criticism for his actions the past few years . . . The Pelicans declined a team option on valuable swingman Herb Jones so they could agree to a four-year, $54 million contract for him to return as the club strengthens its core with the hope that
Zion Williamson returns healthy and focused next season.