Mulder opened eyes in hurry
6game run led to a 3year pact with Warriors
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr first heard Mychal Mulder’s name in late February, when he learned that Golden State was signing Mulder to a 10day contract.
And who could blame Kerr? Mulder had no Wikipedia page and came off the bench in college. During his three G League seasons, he toiled in such basketball outposts as Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Sioux Falls, S.D.
It didn’t take long, however, for Mulder to make an impression on Kerr. After averaging 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in six games, he signed a partially guaranteed, threeyear contract with the Warriors. Little more than 24 hours later, the NBA suspended play when Utah center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.
Mulder has yet to secure a spot on Golden State’s 202021 roster, but some within the organization believe he could be a longterm piece of the rotation. His defensive versatility and shooting range potentially make him an ideal “3andD” wing in the modern NBA.
Unlike many other players light on pedigree, Mulder hardly looked overwhelmed at
With the Warriors’ 201920 season officially done, The Chronicle is reviewing how each player fared.
the sport’s highest level. In his second NBA game, on Feb. 29, he volunteered to defend Phoenix guard Devin Booker. All four shots Booker took against Mulder missed.
Three days later, Mulder hit five 3pointers in a win at Denver. Such prowess from beyond the arc was what had initially drawn the Warriors to him. In 39 games last season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Mulder shot 39.9% from 3point range on an average of 9.8 attempts per game.
In his two games against the Warriors’ G League affiliate, he combined to score 56 points on 17for36 shooting (14for30 from 3point range). On Feb. 27, when Golden State had a 10day contract to fill, director of team development Kent Lacob convinced general manager Bob Myers to spurn more proven players in favor of Mulder.
It was the type of subtle move that quickly would make the Warriors look wise. According to NBA.com, Golden State outscored opponents by a teambest 6.2 net rating with Mulder on the floor. That’s a far cry from the 20.6 net rating by which the Warriors were outscored when he sat.
Though the sample size was small, it was enough to give Mulder a shot at a longterm NBA role. Not bad for someone who was a complete unknown to Kerr less than four months ago.
Offseason outlook: Mulder is guaranteed $200,000 of his $1.5 million contract next season if he’s on the 15man roster for the opener, but the Warriors could cut him before that without being out a dollar. Whether he gets even a trainingcamp invite could come down to Golden State’s offseason decisions.
The Warriors have at least 10 players expected to be on their 202021 roster. That leaves no more than five open spots, but Golden State could use one on whomever it signs to the midlevel exception, one on its upcoming lottery pick and one on whomever it acquires with its traded player exception.
The Warriors also might sign someone to a minimum contract and keep at least one of their two secondround picks. Mulder, Ky Bowman and Juan ToscanoAnderson will be vying for, at best, two spots, but they just as easily could not have an open 15man roster spot to pursue.
If the Warriors do have a vacancy, Mulder should have a good chance at winning it. He is an accurate shooter with the length to make life difficult on some of the league’s better wings. That’s the type of player whom any team would like to have.