Warriors’ youth movement isn’t growing replacements

PORTLAND, Ore. — In June, after winning their third NBA title in four years, the Warriors started to think seriously about how to sustain their success. Given that it was already deep into the luxury tax, Golden State’s best option was developing its young players.

But as the season nears its midpoint, the Warriors’ youth movement hasn’t gone according to plan. Everything from injury to a contract stalemate to just underwhelming performance has hurt the team’s depth. As Golden State awaits the return of center DeMarcus Cousins from a torn left Achilles tendon, it hopes its young players who are available can make strides.

“I would say to this point that, yeah, the youth movement that we talked about has not unfolded, given the injury (to Damian Jones) and Patrick (McCaw’s) situation,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after shoot-around Saturday morning at Moda Center. “It’s one of those things that can turn, though. You never know how it’s all going to play out.”

Golden State entered free agency last summer intent on getting younger. David West retired, Zaza Pachulia signed with the Pistons and JaVale McGee landed with the Lakers. The Warriors also didn’t bring back Nick Young, who signed with the Nuggets on Dec. 10 after sitting out almost two months of the NBA season.

With West, Pachulia and McGee gone, Golden State was content to lean on Jones, Jordan Bell and Kevon Looney at center until Cousins returned. Now, as the Warriors sit at 24-13, that plan has already encountered plenty of hiccups.

Before Jones sustained a potentially season-ending pectoral injury in a Dec. 1 loss to the Pistons, he struggled with such basics as boxing out and staying out of foul trouble. Bell has been so inconsistent that he has yet to carve out consistent minutes despite tons of opportunity. Looney, who is more role player than building block, has been easily the Warriors’ most reliable center.

And the concerns don’t stop with the frontcourt. Golden State selected Jacob Evans III with the No. 28 pick of June’s NBA draft in hopes that he’d contribute immediately, but his shooting woes are so severe that he has logged only 85 minutes. Restricted free agent McCaw, who seemed in line for a rotation spot, will probably never play another game for the Warriors after declining a $1.7 million qualifying offer and a two-year, $5.2 million offer.

McCaw received a nonguaranteed two-year, $6 million offer sheet Friday from the Cavaliers, which Golden State is unlikely to match. There is no need to risk a locker-room disruption by bringing McCaw in so late in the season.

This all doesn’t bode well for the team’s future. Of the 14 players on the Warriors’ roster, seven — Cousins, Looney, Bell, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Jonas Jerebko and Quinn Cook — will hit free agency in July.

By next season, Golden State’s payroll could spike into the $300 million range. A massive luxurytax bill will severely limit its ability to add quality free agents.

“That’s the thing with the NBA,” Kerr said. “Like life, you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow or even today. You just have to adapt.”