The Warriors are waiving three players from their training camp roster, cutting Kevin Knox, Blake Hinson and Jackson Rowe, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto (Twitter link).
Knox was the ninth overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Knicks. He spent the first three and a half seasons of his career with New York before being traded to Atlanta. He then signed a multiyear deal with the Pistons in 2022 before being traded at that deadline to Portland. He caught back on with Detroit before being traded by them a second time at this year’s deadline for Simone Fontecchio.
The Kentucky product played for Golden State in this year’s summer league after not signing elsewhere. He impressed, averaging 16.0 points across six games, leading to his training camp contract with the Warriors. He was not eligible to sign a two-way with Golden State and replace one of their existing players because he has accrued more than three years of NBA service.
Hinson originally signed to the Lakers after going undrafted in the 2024 draft, agreeing to a two-way contract. He averaged 10.9 PPG in eight summer league games with the Lakers. However, when they signed Christian Koloko last month, Hinson was the odd man out. When he signed with the Warriors in September, we relayed that Hinson picked Golden State over several other interested teams. It’s unlikely that any of those teams was offering more than the Exhibit 10 deal he signed with the Warriors, but it will be interesting to monitor if any team with a two-way opening chooses to snag Hinson.
Rowe went undrafted in 2020 after a four-year career at Cal State Fullerton. He played overseas for a few different clubs before playing for the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz last year. He averaged 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks with an impressive shooting line of .513/.394/.805 in 47 games played.
Hinson and Rowe appear likely to suit up for the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. They’ll be eligible for bonuses worth $77.5K apiece if they spend at least 60 days with Santa Cruz. Knox’s future is less certain, since his contract didn’t include Exhibit 10 language.
With 14 players on standard contracts and all three two-way slots filled, the Warriors have likely set their opening day roster, barring a trade or two-way substitution. While they have a 15th roster slot open, they aren’t currently able to fill that opening due to their proximity to the first apron hard cap.
Warriors are going to look back on this, not keeping Kevin Knox will turn out to be the mistake that comes back to haunt them.