How the team will use their 2 open spots
As always, thanks to everyone who sent questions. You can submit questions for future mailbags on Twitter (@wcgoldberg) or by email (wgoldberg@bayareanewsgroup.com).
Who will fill the last two roster spots, and is Jeremy Lin a possibility? — P.
After trading Brad Wanamaker and Marquese Chriss at last week’s trade deadline, GM Bob Myers said Friday the front office will “look at everything” before making a decision in the next week about how to fill the team’s two open roster spots. The Warriors can go in a few directions and will start by sniffing around the buyout market.
Already, Andre Drummond (Lakers), LaMarcus Aldridge (Nets) and Gorgui Dieng (Spurs) have agreed to terms with new teams. Golden State didn’t make sense as a destination for them but could look to add some depth with veteran point guard Jeff Teague. If Houston buys out Avery Bradley, the Warriors would likely have some interest. Other potential candidates include center Kelly Olynyk and forward Otto Porter Jr., should they agree to buyouts in the coming days. It’s worth noting that the Warriors have the $9.3 million disabled player exception available to sign a player to more than the minimum, but they aren’t expected to use that for anything short of a true difference-maker.
And while there’s no immediate need to convert two-way contract players Juan Toscano-Anderson and Nico Mannion to the 15-man roster, the Warriors could sign them to long-term deals to avoid them entering restricted free agency this summer.
During Friday’s media session, Myers acknowledged the front office had considered bringing second-round pick Justinian Jessup over from the NBL, but that seems less likely at this time since they would have to buy him out of his contract, and the team values Jessup’s opportunity to develop while starting for the Illawarra Hawks.
And despite many fans hoping to see Jeremy Lin in Golden State, that appears unlikely. However, the Warriors could award other players from their G League affiliate with an NBA tryout, such as center Kaleb Wesson and guard Ryan Taylor. Wesson, a 21-year-old undrafted rookie out of Ohio State, has shown potential as a shot-blocking and floor-spacing big man. Taylor is a “3-and-D” wing who has spent two years in Santa Cruz, defends well and is shooting 43% from 3-point range. Golden State could sign either of them to a 10-day contract or, if Toscano-Anderson is promoted to the 15-man roster, to a two-way deal.
The Warriors must sign at least one player by April 8 in order to get to the league’s 14-player minimum, so a decision should be made soon.
If you ask me, adding an experienced point guard to help run the second unit, promoting Toscano-Anderson with a multi-year deal and signing Wesson to a two-way deal for needed depth behind James Wiseman and Kevon Looney is probably the most prudent direction.
While I doubt they would trade Wiseman and the pick to move up a few spots — essentially dealing two highend rookies for one — an option that could emerge is packaging their own 2021 pick and the Minnesota pick to move up. Though the Warriors traded their own first-rounder to Oklahoma City to acquire Kelly Oubre Jr., they keep the pick if it falls in the top 20. If the draft lottery was held today, that pick would likely be No. 13, while the Minnesota pick would have a 60% chance of conveying to Golden State at No. 4 or 5 overall. While that probably wouldn’t be enough to move all the way up to No. 1 for presumptive top pick Cade Cunnigham, it could be enough to move up a spot or two and grab Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs — widely-considered the most NBA-ready prospect at the top of the draft.
It’s not that simple. If the Warriors could have gotten a quality asset for Paschall, maybe they would have dealt him. But there’s no indication that Paschall has that much trade value. And despite Paschall not putting up the sort of numbers he did as a featured rookie last season, there are still things the Warriors like about him — particularly his scoring presence off the bench and defensive versatility. That said, there are still questions about his long-term position and ability to play within Kerr’s motion offense.
As Myers recently said on KNBR, Kerr has remarked that Paschall is ultimately a power forward, but I wonder if he’d be better suited as a change-of-pace center — sort of like a modern Marreese Speights. It’s easy to imagine Paschall coming in for a few minutes each half when Curry and other starters are on the bench and letting him eat for a handful of possessions. Maybe he’s not a core rotation piece, but good teams need options.
Would Warriors consider packaging Wiseman with the Minnesota pick to move up in the draft? — @BotExemplary. If Kerr isn’t going to use Paschall, why not trade him? — Curti.