The Golden State Warriors have made a controversial decision, officially waiving sharpshooter LJ Cryer—a player who delivered impressive performances throughout the preseason and earned direct praise from Head Coach Steve Kerr.
Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Cryer, an undrafted rookie, quickly turned heads with his scoring ability and steady ball-handling. His confidence was even acknowledged by Kerr himself, who valued Cryer’s contributions during the preparation phase. However, that confidence wasn’t enough to secure a spot on the final 15-man roster as the Warriors needed to finalize their lineup ahead of the NBA deadline.
LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors controls the ball against Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena.
The move immediately sparked a wave of intense backlash from fans on social media. Many expressed frustration, with one stating Cryer “looked better than 90% of the roster” despite averaging only 10 minutes per game. Another fan questioned, “Why!? He’s a really solid player, has great control of the game, and consistently knocks down threes better than most of the guys out there.” Another comment warned this was a “big mistake,” citing Cryer’s all-around ability to dribble, score, pass, and defend.
However, this may not be the end for Cryer in the Bay Area. Much like the plan with Seth Curry, the Warriors are believed to still intend to keep Cryer within their system. The most likely next step is signing him to a G-League contract with their affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. There, Cryer would get consistent playing time to develop and aim for a two-way contract next season, or even earn a call-up later in the current campaign if needed. This maneuver suggests this could be a strategic roster management move rather than a dismissal of Cryer’s talent.