Return of centers ‘problem’ for Kerr
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has an enviable problem: Once centers James Wiseman and Kevon Looney return from injury in coming days, Kerr will have more rotationcaliber players than he can fit into the mix.
“I’m going to have to have some difficult conversations with several guys,” Kerr said. “But this is the NBA, and our guys who have been around for a while like Looney understand how the league works. The younger guys, if they haven’t learned yet, they’ll learn that it’s your job just to stay ready and produce when your number is called.”
Wiseman (sprained left wrist) and Looney (sprained left ankle) have been ruled out for Saturday’s game at Charlotte, but they’re both expected to return during this fourgame trip, maybe for Tuesday’s game in New York. Both players are likely to command significant minutes.
The No. 2 pick in November’s NBA draft, Wiseman is the Warriors’ franchisecenterinwaiting. His development is one of the team’s highest priorities this season. Meanwhile, Looney supplanted Wiseman in the starting lineup several games before he was injured in a Feb. 2 loss to Boston because he’s a solid defender who limits mistakes.
With Wiseman and Looney sidelined the past twoplus weeks, role players such as Eric Paschall and Juan ToscanoAnderson have provided valuable rotation minutes. Paschall has thrived as a smallball center with the second unit while ToscanoAnderson has emerged as perhaps the league’s most helpful twowaycontract player.
Having started at power forward and center, the 6foot6 ToscanoAnderson has averaged 9 points on 54.4% shooting (45% from 3point range), 6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 27.6 minutes over his past 10 games. Kerr has raved about the contributions from ToscanoAnderson and Paschall, but he knows it could be tough to find them substantial minutes once Wiseman and Looney return.
“I’d love to find (minutes) for Eric and Juan, and I’d love to play Draymond (Green) at the five, and I’d love to develop James and play him as much as possible,” Kerr said. “I want to start Looney because Looney gets us off to a great start, and our best defensive lineup is with him at center. I’d like to do all of those things, but I can’t.”