Warriors invite Sutton to camp
Former Louisville small forward Dwayne Sutton has been invited to Warriors training camp with the chance of earning a twoway contract, a league source confirmed to The Chronicle on Monday.
Sutton, 22, earned an AllACC honorable mention last season after averaging 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 31 games as Louisville went 247. He was not selected in Wednesday’s draft.
At 6foot5, 220 pounds with a 610 wingspan, Sutton can guard at least four positions. The Warriors view him as a “3andD” wing. Last season,
Sutton shot 35.4% from 3point range on 82 attempts.
Given that he turns 23 in February, Sutton probably doesn’t have the upside of other players entering the NBA. His strength and athleticism, however, give him a chance to be a helpful role player.
A zerostar recruit coming out of Manual High School in Louisville, Sutton enrolled at the only Division I school to offer him a scholarship, UNCAsheville, where he was the Bulldogs’ secondleading scorer and top rebounder as a freshman. After transferring to Louisville as a walkon, he sat out a year before earning a scholarship for the 201718 season.
If he lands a twoway contract, Sutton could play as many as 50 of a possible 72 games with the Warriors this season. Travel and practice days with the NBA team wouldn’t be counted as active days. When not with Golden State, Sutton would be with the Warriors’ G League affiliate in
Santa Cruz.
The Warriors, who open training camp next Tuesday, have two twoway contracts available. Golden State has 17 players on its roster, and it must get down to 15 by the regularseason opener on Dec. 22. Point guard Nico Mannion, the No. 48 pick in Wednesday’s draft, could be a candidate for a twoway contract.
Golden State also could choose to use a twoway deal on Mychal Mulder or Juan ToscanoAnderson, each of whom impressed in limited time with the NBA club last season and is on a nonguaranteed deal. Odds are that the Warriors won’t have room for both Mulder and ToscanoAnderson on the 15man roster.