Think the Golden State Warriors are all set after signing Brandon Williams and Georges Niang this week? Nope. Turns out, those one-year deals aren’t fully guaranteed, meaning the roster battle is far from over and someone could still crash the party before opening night.
The Dollar Details: Who’s Got Skin In The Game?
This isn’t just talk, it’s about cold hard cash, or rather, the lack of it being guaranteed. Michael Scott from Hoopshype laid it all out: Georges Niang’s deal is only partially guaranteed for about $1.8 million of his $3.9 million salary. That’s a good chunk, but it still leaves room for a shocker. Brandon Williams? His deal is fully non-guaranteed. Zip. Zero. He gets $1.4 million guaranteed only if he makes the opening night roster, and just over $2.6 million if he sticks around through the guaranteed deadline. Talk about a tightrope walk!
And it’s not just those two. Center Charles Bassey is in the same boat. He signed a one-year, $2.85 million deal, but only $1.4 million of that is guaranteed. With three guys on the roster essentially trying out for their spots, the Warriors have some serious flexibility. The second apron hard cap definitely complicates things, but they can still shake things up without a trade. Williams is clearly the most vulnerable right now, especially if he gets injured or if some dark horse suddenly lights it up. Waiving Williams pre-season would let the Warriors grab a veteran minimum guy and stay under that hard cap. If they waive Bassey, they’d have just enough space for a rookie. Waiving Niang wouldn’t open up enough cash for another immediate signing, but they could just roll with a 14-player roster to start the season and use the savings down the line.
Who’s Knocking On The Door?
So, who are these “dark horses” pushing for a spot? Keep an eye on Dalen Terry, LJ Cryer, Malevy Leons, Lajae Jones, and Graham Ike. Terry is particularly interesting. Even though there’s no official deal yet, he’s been seen hanging with Warriors players this offseason, and he’s still unsigned. This 2022 first-round pick from Arizona, a 6’6 wing who just turned 24, has flashed that sweet 3-and-D potential. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody dealing with injuries, Terry could be a really intriguing rotation piece for Golden State if his three-point shot makes a leap. Lajae Jones, the Warriors’ own rookie second-round pick, has a similar game to Terry, so he’s absolutely in the mix to make his own case for a roster spot.
This isn’t a done deal, not by a long shot. The Warriors front office has some tough calls coming. These next few weeks before the regular season kicks off are going to be wild. Every practice, every scrimmage, every single moment matters for these guys fighting for their NBA dreams. Warriors fans better be ready for some serious drama as the final roster takes shape!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
Leave a Reply