The Golden State Warriors are battling a critical roster decision ahead of Wednesday’s play-in game. While their opponent will be officially confirmed after the conclusion of the final regular-season game, there is an air of uncertainty about whether that play-in game will be their last for the season or a step toward the playoff level.
Locked into the No. 10 seed, injuries haven’t been kind to Golden State this year and have thinned their roster heading into the decisive stretch.
Jimmy Butler has been hurt since January and is out for the season, so he is not going to be available. Moses Moody, who was having a career year, is sidelined indefinitely, and Quinten Post is dealing with a foot issue. Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are available, but their health has always remained questionable throughout the season.
Stephen Curry just returned, and the Warriors’ depth consists of him, Porzingis, Draymond Green (who is listed as day-to-day), Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos at the front. Then adding De’Anthony Melton, Horford, Gary Payton II, Will Richard and Seth Curry, their depth will need another player, especially with Post’s return uncertain.
The Roster Deadline: A Sunday Decision
The Golden State Warriors have to decide by the end of day Sunday who will fill their 15th roster spot for the play-in tournament and playoffs .
Players on two-way contracts are ineligible for the postseason, which means Nate Williams, L.J. Cryer and Malevy Leons would be ineligible for Wednesday’s play-in game unless their contracts are converted to standard NBA deals . Charles Bassey currently holds that final standard-contract spot but can be released to make room for one of the two-way players .
The Candidates: Breaking Down Each Option
Charles Bassey (6-foot-10 Center)
Bassey joined the Warriors in April after a stint with the Santa Cruz Warriors. He has only played four games for Golden State; however, he is among the top five in points per game for current healthy players and leads in rebounds in that same category .
With his 7’3″ wingspan, Bassey has impressed in four games with Golden State . He’s averaging 14.5 rebounds per 36 minutes, and among healthy Warriors, Gary Payton II is second on the team with just 8.4 . Bassey also appeared to get major consideration for this roster spot, seeing as he played seven minutes in the first three quarters of Friday’s Kings game—a dress rehearsal for the play-in .
The case for Bassey is clear: if one was given just a few minutes in a play-in game, Bassey would likely be more impactful. His combination of rebounding, shot-blocking and power finishing is clearly worth an NBA roster spot .
Nate Williams (6-foot-5 Guard/Forward)
Williams has defensive versatility and improved shooting. He is shooting 44.4% from three this season, which is a career-high mark . When Williams is playing, he looks longer than 6’5″. He’s so active with his hands getting deflections and steals that the Warriors can reasonably trust him to guard a star small forward like Kawhi Leonard for a few possessions in the play-in tournament .
Offensively, Williams doesn’t bring much to the table. He’s pretty much a catch-and-shoot specialist who can occasionally sneak in for an offensive rebound .
L.J. Cryer (6-foot Guard)
Cryer is the best offensive player of the four. Among currently healthy Warriors, he’s fifth on the team in points per 36 minutes (18.2) . However, aside from his lack of size and the Warriors’ depth at the guard positions, two things are working against Cryer.
First, he just sprained his ankle. The Warriors need this player to be ready to go on Wednesday, even if it’s only for a few minutes . Second, Cryer is on a two-year, two-way contract. If the Warriors convert his contract, they better be sure they will be able to keep him in the offseason .
Malevy Leons (6-foot-9 Forward)
At 6’9″, Leons is the most versatile of the Warriors’ options. Though he likely wouldn’t have to, he’s shown he can play small-ball center. And though he’s probably best suited guarding 4s, he’s athletic enough to guard 3s . Leons has been dealing with a right wrist injury, but in Friday’s game against the Kings, he knocked down a corner three, suggesting he’s healthy enough to play in the play-in .
Like Cryer, Leons is on a two-year, two-way contract. He is the most raw of the four players here, so the Warriors are unlikely to convert him .
The Depth Chart Reality
It’s easy to see that the Warriors have depth issues in the frontcourt . If Post can’t return by Wednesday, the Warriors will have just 11 healthy players on standard contracts, and just four of them will be taller than 6’4″ .
The Verdict: Bassey Is the Likely Choice
The Warriors have to consider the best fit for the play-in and, if they make it past that stage, the playoffs. Converting a two-way contract uses one of the team’s limited standard spots but unlocks postseason eligibility. A player on a two-way contract is limited to some regular-season games, but when that gets upgraded for the postseason, there are no limits .
Head coach Steve Kerr and the front office must look at a short-term solution while also planning for the long term. After weighing all the options, Bassey appears to have won over the analysts . The downside to choosing Bassey over Williams is that when Santos is sitting, the Warriors will be playing a guard 6’4″ or shorter at small forward. But at this point, it’s preferable to see the Warriors play Stephen Curry, Melton and Podziemski together and live with the lack of size issues than play Williams just to have a little more length on the court .
The other thing the Warriors have to consider is the possibility Porzingis or Horford suffers an injury during the play-in or playoffs. If one of them goes down, having Bassey would be very important . Ultimately, Bassey’s combination of rebounding, shot-blocking and power finishing makes him the most impactful option for a team that needs frontcourt depth more than anything else.