SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn’t anticipate being this shorthanded, this early.
Down to just one center on a guaranteed contract, and one on a training camp deal, the Warriors start the preseason short on big bodies, and are exploring free agent options to fill the gaps. Kerr noted before Saturday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers at the new Chase Center that the Warriors held workouts for “a few guys” and will make a decision on adding a center in the next few days.
Kevon Looney (hamstring), Willie Cauley-Stein (foot sprain) and Alen Smailagic (ankle) were lost before the end of training camp. The team previously signed former lottery pick Marquese Chriss to a training camp deal and, already, Chriss will be thrust into the preseason rotation as the backup center behind Omari Spellman. Rookie 6-foot-9 forward Eric Paschall could see some time at center, as well.
“We are in a tough spot at that center position. Not just in terms of the season two-and-a-half weeks from now, but training camp,” Kerr said. “In training camp, positionally, you need guys. You need multiple guys at each spot in order to practice and run your drills. So we’re in a little bit of a strange spot that we weren’t anticipating.”
On the preseason schedule, the Warriors have four games against the Lakers and one game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both opponents have all-pro bigs (Anthony Davis for the Lakers, Karl-Anthony Towns for the Timberwolves) who will provide a challenging test to Golden State’s healthy, though unproven, centers.
Frustrated after Spellman showed up to summer league out of shape, the Atlanta Hawks traded the 30th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to the Warriors for center Damian Jones and a second-round pick. Spellman has lost almost 40 pounds since the summer, but is still over his target playing weight.
Chriss has played for three teams in three seasons since being selected eighth overall in the 2016. If he can stick, the Warriors would be his fourth, though he would have to out-perform what has been, so far, an underwhelming career in which he has averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Making matters worse is that the team will be without wing Klay Thompson until at least the All-Star break, and lost swingman Andre Iguodala in the offseason.. That will limit how much small ball the Warriors can play with Draymond Green at center.
It all amounts to a challenging position for the fifth-year head coach as the Warriors open up the preseason.
“We haven’t decided what we’re going to do,” Kerr said. “But we’ll see.”
