Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers said Klay Thompson can participate in some training camp activities, “just not contact, no 5-on-5,” Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets. Thompson’s return will perhaps come in January when he feels he’s ready. However, he’ll ramp up activities gradually and will participate in numerous scrimmages, and perhaps high-intensity G League practices, before he returns.
Thompson hints that he’s a little more optimistic about his return date, saying he wouldn’t return until late November or early December, Slater adds in another tweet.
Coach Steve Kerr said Thompson, who has missed two seasons due to knee and Achilles injuries, will make his season debut in a home game, Nick Friedell of ESPN tweets.
We have more on the Warriors:
- Andrew Wiggins isn’t backing down from his anti-vax stance, though he won’t elaborate on his reasons, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. If Wiggins is not fully vaccinated by October 13, he will not be allowed inside Chase Center for practices or games. For every game he misses, he’ll forfeit more than $350K in pre-tax salary, Poole notes. Myers is hopeful Wiggins will change his stance, according to Friedell. “My belief and my thoughts are that we’ll have the full team,” Myers said. “I’m not preparing really for anything different right now.”
- Though Golden State is deep into the luxury tax, Stephen Curry would like to see the front office to use its taxpayer mid-level exception, perhaps in the buyout market, if the right opportunity arises, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic tweets.
- There are no roster changes anticipated heading into the season, Marcus Thompson of The Athletic tweets. “I expect this roster to be our roster, especially in the near term and probably into the season,” Myers said. “I want to see what the team looks like as constructed.” There will be spirited competition for the final roster spots on a team with 13 guaranteed contracts. Golden State recently added veterans Avery Bradley, Langston Galloway and Jordan Bell to the camp roster.
Dubs are still awfully thin at Center, especially with Wiseman not expected to be ready by Opening Night. Looney has his own Injury-history with the surgically-repaired Hips.
Surprised they aren’t taking a look at Bismack Biyambo, DeMarcus Cousins or Aron Baynes.
Can only ask Draymond to play so many Minutes at Center, and no Nemanja Bjelica is not a Center.
No roster spot for another add. They obviously dont want to do the Cousins thing again or he doesnt want back. Baynes is out for the year I think, and I thought Biyambo signed a camp deal somewhere. I would expect them to find a big for the other 2 way spot so they just have an extra body.
If you rewatch the Warriors losses to LAL and MEM to end their season, you’ll see that a big like Cousins or Gasol isn’t necessarily needed.
Juan said at Warriors Media Day today that he gained ten pounds so he could guard centers. GSW did fine with no true 5 vs LAL and MEM. It’s a faster game. This is why Myers/Kerr is pursuing a backup for Steph, a slightly higher priority than a true 5, for that last available roster spot.
Felton Spencer could still
Give them 5-10 strong minutes a game. He was that good!
Uhhhh what?! Looney, Wiseman, Draymond, JTA, Bjelicia, and Kuminga.
And for all those that say “kUmInGa iS oNlY a Sf!”
Kuminga is 6’8/230+, according to their G-League coach two weeks ago, and he’s still growing.
Jordan Bell is 6’8/218. JTA is 6’6/215, and Dray is 6’6/235, Bjelicia is 6’10/235, & Wiseman’s 7ft/245.
Kuminga’s fhe 3rd biggest Warrior(yes Looney is an inch taller, but also at least 10lbs lighter, with a complidifferent body type, as Kuminga is much stronger.) Kuminga showed he has athletic potential in summer league, but still looks a ways away from being able to contribute much as an offensive initiator/primary wing.
That being said, I expect Kerr to take advantage of his size+strength+athleticism and use him as a rim running center this season, not unlike how they used Jordan Bell early on in his career or how Memphis used/uses Xavier Tillman(6’8/240).
Run and play/finish/defend hard around the rim. It’s the easiest way to get him on the floor and make the most out of his physical attributes without exposing him to superior wing talent until he’s ready. Instead, he can body backup centers and allow their defense to remain super switchy.
As far as center depth? That’s probably where Golden State is DEEPEST.
After Steph, the backup PG group is looking like a platoon of Iggy+Poole, w/Chiozza on the 2-way. If they sign Avery Bradley, that’ll confirm the platoon, as AB is a 3 and D SG in a PG’s body. An off ball player. However if they sign Galloway, I’d imagine they’d want Poole to continue focusing on off-ball/his own shot creation, and have Iggy’s 10-15 min a night spread across spurts with Steph and the 2nd unit to provide stability, though a Galloway/Poole/JTA/Bjelicia/Wiseman 2nd unit is much better than than last year’s. However I think a Poole/Bradley/JTA/Bjelicia/Wiseman might be better, as Poole/Wiseman may be able to pull off a LouWill/Trezz-esque 2-man game, and AB/Bjelicia are solid floor spacers. JTA is a smart player, so if he can hit above 35% on more than 2 attempts a game, he’s going to be such a valuable piece on this team, not entirely unlike a 2017 Iggy, with less ball handling.
Wing is Wiggins*,(SF/SG/PF), Porter(SF/PF), JTA(PF/C/SF), Lee(SG/SF), Moody(SG/SF). You can throw Iggy in there, but I imagine most of his time on the floor would technically be as a PG/ball handler, like he did a lot in his last tenure in Golden State, similar to how Draymond initiates the offense, which frees up Steph to run off screens and find an open look while Iggy directs traffic.
Jordan Bell is ONLY in camp as a big body, and that’s ONLY because Wiseman is out until October 15th-4 days before the season.
If anything, they use the last two-way spot on a young big but I think they’re comfortable going into the season with Loon/Wiseman/Dray/JTA/Bjelicia(6’10/235) and Kuminga. Expect Kuminga to be setting screens, rolling to the rim, catching lobs, blocking shots, rebounding, bodying up guys, and doing a LOT of running before he’s instilled with more responsibilities.
This is a team that lacks elite athletes outside of Wiggins and Wiseman, so Kuminga has an opportunity to make a difference there. Especially with the aging core of Steph(33), Klay(31), and Dray(31). Add in 37yo Iggy, and injury prone guys like Porter, Looney, and Bjelicia, and his athletic ability+strength/size combo becomes a useful asset.
That’s my TED talk y’all.
Neither is Green or Looney. Still say Gasol is the right guy for them. But Cousins is also one to consider.
With how they love him I bet they sign Gasol tomorrow if he wants to. I think he is maybe going to play in Spain and sign with a contender in like March.
They have much better center depth than they’ve had the last two+ years. Looney/Wiseman/Draymond/JTA/Bjelicia and Kuminga will all see time at the 5. They only brought in the 6’8/218 Jordan Bell as a camp body bc Wiseman’s out until October 15–4 days before the season. Limiting his responsibilities will help Kuminga adjust to the speed of the NBA, so I’d imagine he 6’8+/230+ Kuminga starts the year in a role not unlike Jordan Bell in his rookie year: a lot of running, rebounding, screen setting, rolling to the rim, catching lobs, bodying guys, blocking shots and playing with aggression around the rim. His size and athleticism allow them to be switchy on defense without giving much up in size, relative to the other guys they play at the 5(Dray-6’6/235, JTA-6’6/215, Looney-6’9/220, Bjelicia-6’10/235). Wiseman should be the full time backup center until he gets more comfortable in the league, where he can bully backup bigs.
Though I expect Kuminga’s rookie year to be something like Jordan Bell’s rookie year or Xavier Tillman’s.
Reminder, Kuminga was supposed to be a senior in high school last year, it’s going to take time for him to reach his full potential. There’s obviously a drop off in talent between center and wing positions wcross the league, and it’ll take time for him to adjust. This limited role would help him get on the floor without putting him in positions he’s not ready for/won’t help his game, like the spacing issues of a Kuminga/Draymond/Looney 3/4/5, however a Porter/Bjelicia/Kuminga 3/4/5 has solid veteran shooters, allowing a clear paint for Kuminga to do what he does best and build experience as well as confidence on the court.
Santa Cruz coach said recently he’s at least 6’8/230+ now, and that there’s a chance he’s still growing. GSW already views him as their big wing/PF-SF of the future, can’t hurt to run him at the 5, ESPECIALLY if he starts next season at 6’9 or 6’10+. Then I’d imagine Wiseman’s on the hot seat, or the Dubs of 2025 are huge with a 6’10 PF and a 7ft C. Who knows♂️
However Kerr and Myers have been clear, they want versatility to be one of Kuminga’s strengths, and the way the NBA is so fast and switchy, A LOT of the time, guys swap positions several times per possession, based on the play/who they’re guarding and where they are on the court at that time. Being able to switch seamlessly is a skill, and it’s one GSW values immensely.
Warriors have to straighten out this Wiggins thing. I’ve always supported this guy. But this anti Vax thing. Really has made me wonder about him. I’m starting to see what Jimmy saw in him. Warriors are suppose to be back this yr. For him to make this stance is weak. He is soft and I’m just tired of all these uniformed humans. Kareem is 100% right. Time to move forward and stop the BS. Kuminga is the key along with Wuseman. Klay will be back after all star break. Wiggins is just messing up this whole yr for them.
Super rich people that have been told they are gods gift to basketball since age 12 and given special treatment are acting like entitled narcissist, color me surprised.
He’s acting entitled because he isn’t vaccinated? I think you have it backwards
To be afraid of a vaccine that saves lives is obtuse af…period dot.
How are you just now questioning Wiggins’ motivation? I’ve always supported him too but he has lacked the killer instinct his entire career at every stop. Why does is this the final straw for you lol?
I think Wiggs will take the vaccine eventually. Saw some clues today at Media Day that give that away a little bit.
Really? What clues?
Been too busy to write them down. Check my website (see username) maybe tomorrow or in a couple days.
No thanks. I’d rather just dismiss your comment if you don’t have time to back it up here.
Why is*
There’s a reason homer Marty is trying to dish him everyday lol
Kareem? What did Kareem say?
You don’t know his reasons though. They can be legit, or they can be dumb. I don’t think it’s proper to make assumptions about anyone’s person choice. I got my vaccine just to appease my family and mostly so I can see my niece or else my sister wouldn’t let me lol. But these NBA dudes are young. I remember when I was in my mid twenties how my mentality was. Still have the energy and strong will to stick up for things and fight battles that you simply don’t anymore at an older age. Even if his reasons are not trusting the gov’t, is that so unreasonable? How can the NBA be pushing BLM so hard and how can the media be pushing systematic racism narratives, but then say you should trust them when they say take the vaccine? Not saying that’s my point of view, but just saying that it’s not unreasonable if that is someone’s view.
They had previously reported that Klay could be back by Christmas, but now they’re saying that perhaps he can return in January. Just like I said, next it’s the AS break.
Wiggins needs to be gone. Putting his team at risk is unforgivable.