After a painstakingly grueling season of development, the Warriors can no longer afford patience.
Much of the Warriors’ 2019-20 season was spent cultivating young talent on their way to a league-worst 15-50 record. But, as the organization intends to vault back into contention, head coach Steve Kerr expects the work to revamp the bench to pay off.
“I’m looking for a big, big leap forward for some of our younger players to the point where they can get into our rotation,” Kerr said on a conference call with reporters Tuesday. “Now who that is, that’s up to them. They have to earn that next year in camp and exhibition season and all that.”
Eight of Golden State’s 15 roster spots are spoken for by current players, with three earmarked for players acquired via a top-five draft pick, a trade exception and a mid-level exception.
Warriors’ 2020-21 Projected Roster Breakdown:
Stephen Curry
Klay Thompson
Andrew Wiggins
Draymond Green
Kevon Looney
Jordan Poole
Marquese Chriss
Eric Paschall
Draft pick
Trade exception
Mid-level exception
Player 12
Player 13
Player 14
Player 15
Two-way
Two-way
That leaves just four roster spots and a pair of two-way contracts up for grabs when training camp for the 2020-21 season begins, reportedly in November. Here’s where some of the players at the end of the Warriors’ bench stand with their season officially over.
Juan Toscano-Anderson
2019-20 stats: 5.3 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 20.9 minutes per game (13 games)
2020-21 contract status: $1,517,981 (non-guaranteed)
After being called up from the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz in February, Toscano-Anderson impressed coaches with his two-way play. His ability to fill a box score and play both forward spots could be an asset for the Warriors next season. However, he has the same master-of-none quality that plagued former-Warriors forward Alfonzo McKinnie, who was waived in preseason last year.
Mychal Mulder
2019-20 stats: 11 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 29.1 minutes per game (seven games)
2020-21 contract status: $1,517,981 (non-guaranteed)
Mulder was billed as a sharpshooter when the 25-year-old guard signed with the Warriors in late February. But, despite making just 30% of his 7.4 3-point attempts per game, Mulder shined in other ways. He proved he was a willing rebounder and better-than-expected defender. The highlight of his short stint is guarding and limiting Suns scorer Devin Booker in Phoenix. By mid-March, Kerr often went out of his way to praise Mulder. He believes he has potential to develop into a 3-and-D player.
Ky Bowman
2019-20 stats: 7.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 22.6 minutes per game (45 games)
2020-21 contract status: $1,517,981 (non-guaranteed)
At the beginning of the season it seemed like Bowman — a slashing scorer and high-energy defender — had proved he could be the Warriors’ backup point guard of the future. But after he returned from G League-assignment in February, the 22-year-old undrafted guard struggled, missing shots in bulk and racking up turnovers. That, combined with the emergence of rookie Jordan Poole as a playmaker, makes Bowman’s status on the roster for next season more precarious than it was last November.
Damion Lee
2019-20 stats: 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29 minutes per game (49 games)
2020-21 contract status: $1,762,796 (non-guaranteed)
The only reason Lee makes this list is because his contract is non-guaranteed for next season and, unlike Chriss (also non-guaranteed), isn’t competing for a starting job. However, in addition to being an efficient scorer, above-average rebounder and willing defender, the 27-year-old guard has earned equity with the organization and is a respected locker-room presence. While he won’t average 29 minutes per game next season, his value will be his consistency despite spotty playing time.
Alen Smailagic
2019-20 stats: 4.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 9.9 minutes per game (14 games)
2020-21 contract status: $1,517,981 (guaranteed)
The 39th pick in last June’s draft, Smailagic is a tantalizing talent with whom the Warriors have taken a patient approach. The 6-foot-10, 215 pound forward/center displayed an aggressive scoring mentality, and coaches and teammates raved about his willingness to study the game. However, he is still very raw, and struggled mightily to function within a game plan. The Warriors believe he is multiple years away from being a rotation NBA player and, by then, their championship window could be closed. They have to decide if using a 15-man roster spot to develop Smailagic is worth the opportunity cost.
Whoever doesn’t make the final 15-man roster and isn’t offered a contract to play elsewhere should have the inside track on landing one of two two-way contracts next season, allowing them to spend time in the G League and up to 45 days in the NBA.
If the Warriors are able to hold mandatory mini-camps this summer, as Kerr hopes they will, these players will have another opportunity to receive coaching and prove they belong on the roster next season.
