New Warriors bring strengths, weaknesses to retooled roster
In the wake of Kevin Durant’s departure for the Nets, the Warriors went allin on a youth movement.
In less than two weeks, they overhauled their roster, prioritizing cheap 20somethings who can be groomed into larger roles. Golden State has eight new players — seven of whom are no older than 25 — with training camp about two months away.
Because the Warriors are just $219,000 below the hard cap, they don’t have the room to accommodate even a minimum contract. That means Golden State, which has 14 players on their 15man roster, will probably enter next season with an open spot.
Here is a look at the newcomers and how they figure to fit:
Alec Burks, 27, shooting guard/small forward
201819 stats: 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2 assists per game with Jazz, Cavaliers and Kings
What to expect: Burks is an offensefocused wing who has largely failed to live up to expectations as a former lottery pick. But on a minimum contract, he should offer the Warriors plenty of value.
At 6foot6, 214 pounds with a 6foot10 wingspan, he can be an effective onball defender when engaged. The issue for him has long been his focus. Too often, Burks takes defensive possessions off to preserve energy for offense, a big nono for someone with a career average just north of 20 minutes per game.
A career 35.5% 3point shooter who once averaged 14 points per game with the Jazz, Burks provides the Warriors another floorspacer to help make up for Quinn Cook’s departure. With Klay Thompson expected to miss at least the first couple months of the season while recovering from ACL surgery, Burks could start at small forward for a team light on wing depth.
Willie CauleyStein, 25, center
201819 stats: 11.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game with Kings
What to expect: D’Angelo Russell was the Warriors’ most notable offseason acquisition, but CauleyStein was their biggest bargain. For little more than a minimum contract, Golden State got a starting center who can run the floor, throw down alleyoop dunks, thrive in pickandrolls and find open shooters.
Still, CauleyStein has his share of flaws. During his four seasons with the Kings, he struggled with consistency, following up dominant games with ugly ones. His motor — and by extension, his passion for basketball — has been questioned. Despite his size, the 7footer is not much of an interior defender.
The Warriors are banking on their system and culture being able to maximize his gifts. Head coach Steve Kerr, long averse to pickandrolls, has already talked to CauleyStein about calling some pickandrolls for him and Russell. On defense, CauleyStein will work with assistant coach Ron Adams to get timely blocks and not overhelp.
Kerr likes to start prototypical centers in CauleyStein’s mold. By running him with the first unit, the Warriors can keep Kevon Looney where he is most comfortable: coming off the bench.
Eric Paschall, 22, power forward
201819 stats: 16.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game with Villanova.
What to expect: Paschall was the last of the Warriors’ three draft picks, but he is well positioned to make the biggest contribution as a rookie. With Jonas Jerebko and Jordan Bell gone, Paschall could be the primary backup at power forward for Draymond Green, which is fitting given that Paschall has long been compared with Green.
Though not a passer of Green’s caliber, Paschall is a versatile defender who plays with emotion, hits 3pointers and seldom makes mistakes. The Warriors view him as a highfloor, lowceiling prospect capable of eating up 15 minutes a night immediately.
After four years of college (one at Fordham, three at Villanova), he understands how to make the subtle plays to help his team win. That’s why Golden State signed Paschall to a fully guaranteed threeyear deal, a rarity for the No. 41 pick. On a roster riddled with holes, he’ll be expected to fill in next season at center and both forward positions.
Jordan Poole, 20, shooting guard
201819 stats: 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game with Michigan
What to expect: Many pundits called Poole a “reach” when the Warriors drafted him with the No. 28 pick. His only NBAready skill was his shotmaking, and even that wasn’t elite.
Poole is a belowaverage defender who is turnover prone and not especially athletic. But with Cook gone and Thompson sidelined, the Warriors see Poole as a muchneeded floorspacer.
If summer league was any indicator, Poole might need time to adjust to the deeper NBA 3point arc. In Sacramento and Las Vegas, he shot 35% from the field (22% from the 3point range), prompting summer league coach Aaron Miles to publicly question his shot selection.
The Warriors would like Poole to crack the rotation as a backup combo guard, given that their only other backup guard on the 15man roster is Jacob Evans. It’s possible, though, that Poole will need to spend time in the G League before he’s ready to contribute.
Glenn Robinson III, 25, shooting guard/small forward
201819 stats: 4.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game with Pistons
What to expect: This might be Robinson’s last chance to prove he belongs in the NBA. After injurymarred seasons with the Pacers and Pistons, he arrives at Golden State as a minimumcontract reclamation project.
A former Slam Dunk Contest champion, Robinson is a supreme athlete who hasn’t defended well enough or hit 3pointers at a high enough rate to become the “3andD” wing many had envisioned when he was drafted out of Michigan five years ago. There is reason, however, for optimism.
Robinson has the length and quickness to blossom into a versatile defender. Although he shot just 29% from beyond the arc last season, he converted over 38% of his 3point attempts from 201415 to 201718 — an encouraging sign considering that he should have more space alongside Russell, Stephen Curry and, eventually, Thompson.
Until Thompson returns, Robinson will help shore up the smallforward position with Burks and Alfonzo McKinnie. This should be enough time for Robinson to show Kerr that he warrants a rotation spot for the rest of the season.
D’Angelo Russell, 23, point guard/shooting guard
201819 stats: 21.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7 assists per game with Nets
What to expect: To sign Russell to a fouryear, $117 million contract, the Warriors gave up two firstround picks, $5.6 million in cash, Andre Iguodala and the chance to resign most of their free agents. That’s a lot for someone who many think is an awkward fit in Golden State’s system.
In Brooklyn, Russell was a balldominant point guard whose game subsisted on pickandrolls. With the Warriors, he’ll move off the ball, settling in as more of a catchandshoot specialist alongside Curry.
It will be an adjustment, but Russell’s success on spotup jumpers suggests he can excel in his new role. And it’s not as if he’ll have to completely give up his playmaking. When Curry and Draymond Green sit (their minutes typically align), Russell will run the point and work off pickandrolls with CauleyStein.
Perhaps the bigger question is on the defensive end. Although he has the size and athleticism to be an aboveaverage defender, Russell has long been too focused on offense to make defense much of a priority. With Thompson injured, Golden State will open the season without a reliable wing defender.
Alen Smailagic, 18, power forward/center
201819 stats: 9.1 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist per game with Santa Cruz Warriors
What to expect: The Warriors were so high on Smailagic that, after watching him play with their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz last season, they traded two future secondround picks and $1 million to the Pelicans to draft him at No. 39 — just two spots before Golden State’s next selection. This is a longterm investment.
At 18 years old, Smailagic was the youngest player in G League history last season. Although he delivered a number of highlightworthy dunks in summer league, he remains raw, often playing out of position defensively and hoisting questionable jumpers.
Smailagic will have a 15man roster spot, but he is expected to spend most of his rookie season in Santa Cruz. Anything he can provide Golden State will be a luxury.
Omari Spellman, 21, power forward/center
201819 stats: 5.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1 assist per game with Hawks
What to expect: Spellman, who was acquired in the recent trade that sent Damian Jones to Atlanta, offers the Warriors’ frontcourt another potential building block. Although he largely underwhelmed in his rookie season with Atlanta, Spellman showed enough for Golden State to believe he can immediately slide into a rotation role.
Listed at 6foot9 and 245 pounds, he can hold his own inside while also stepping out to knock down 3pointers. His motor and shotblocking instincts suggest that he can become an aboveaverage interior defender.
The big question for Spellman is whether he can keep his weight down. At one point last season, he ballooned to 293 pounds. That added heft is part of the reason Spellman suffered a lowgrade high left ankle sprain that sidelined him for 19 games.
If he can stay in game shape, he should help back up Green at power forward. Spellman can also fill in as a third center behind CauleyStein and Looney.