Dragan Bender inked a 10-day deal with the Warriors in late February and today was the final day of that pact. Head coach Steve Kerr, who said Bender has impressed the team, would be on board with keeping the big man around.
“I think he has a lot of potential…I’d love to give him another 10 days,” Kerr said (video link via Anthony Slater of The Athletic)
Bender, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft, is still just 22 years old. He spent the first three years of his career with the team that drafted him, the Suns. He spent the first half of this season with the Bucks, though he appeared in just seven games for Milwaukee before the team waived him.
The Warriors have won two of the past three games with Bender in the rotation. He’s scored 35 points, going +6 over 63 minutes in that timespan.
Pffft. Not a player.
Absolutely will not be on Golden State roster next season. And not because they can only afford minimum guys. Bender would gladly take a roster spot with a minimum contract, he’s actually fighting for his NBA life.
To be an NBA player you’ve got to excel in at least one category. If you don’t and Bender doesn’t, then you’ve got a very, very good in all of them. Bender is not that either.
He has shown he is a bench player. He can do enough where he doesn’t stick out as a liability. There is a reason why GSW traded away bench players some couldn’t play any defense.
Kerr: “I think he has a lot of potential.”
Translated… “he hasn’t shown me anything yet, but I think he could possibly show something in the future.”
Apparently not impressed enough to re-sign him though?
It took them over a week to resign Chriss. Now he is their starting Center. They probably want to try out more players.