As the injury bug bites their veteran core, the Golden State Warriors are making strategic adjustments to maintain roster depth. In a mid-season reshuffling effort, the franchise has made two notable moves: signing promising young shooter LJ Cryer to a two-way contract and waiving forward Jackson Rowe.
According to reports from Anthony Slater, the Warriors will sign guard LJ Cryer to a two-way deal following his explosive G-League stint with the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he averaged 24.3 points and shot an impressive 41.4% from three-point range. To make room, the team waived Jackson Rowe—a move described as “long overdue.”
Cryer, a former NCAA champion with Baylor in 2021, possesses what’s been called “microwave scoring ability.” He impressed during the preseason, leading the team in three-point percentage (54.5%) and plus/minus. Adding an efficient volume shooter like Cryer addresses a critical need for the Warriors, who currently rank just 15th in the NBA in three-point percentage.
This move comes hot on the heels of Golden State’s official signing of Seth Curry, aimed at further bolstering their perimeter shooting. However, it also indirectly increases pressure on Buddy Hield, who is experiencing the worst shooting season of his career.
Amidst the absences of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, these strategic, incremental adjustments demonstrate the Warriors’ front office scrambling to optimize every roster spot. Giving LJ Cryer an opportunity isn’t just about filling a temporary gap—it’s a calculated gamble on long-term potential. The Warriors’ championship defense is being rewritten with new names, and Cryer could be the next unexpected gem polished in Golden State’s developmental furnace.