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Golden State Warriors Rumors: Roster Moves, Green, Joseph & Thompson

The Golden State Warriors made a handful of roster moves on Tuesday. According to Anthony Slater of the Athletic, the Warriors signed free agent guards Javonte Green and Yuri Collins. Slater added that the Warriors waived Donovan Williams, Javan Johnson, and Kendric Davis to make room for the new additions.

Golden State Warriors Rumors: Roster Moves, Draymond Green, & Klay Thompson

Green is a 30-year-old vet who has made 186 career NBA appearances. A lingering right knee problem limited Green to 32 games last year with the Chicago Bulls. Green, known for his athleticsm and defense, is a fantastic finisher around the rim but otherwise very limited offensively. He has improved as a 3-point shooter, making over 35% from beyond the arc in each of the last three seasons.

Collins went undrafted out of Saint Louis this past June. Collins is a pass-first point guard who is very limited offensively and an outstanding defender. The six-footer did struggle in six summer league appearances for the Warriors.

Williams saw the most action of the three players waived this preseason. The 22-year-old wing totaled seven points on 3 of 4 shooting and two rebounds in 13 minutes of action over two games. Last season, Williams played in two games for the Atlanta Hawks.

Johnson, who went undrafted out of DePaul this year, appeared in one preseason contest and saw a tick under 10 minutes of action. The 6-6 forward tallied five points, on 2 of 4 shooting including 1 of 3 from the 3-point line, with one rebound and one assist.

Davis, undrafted out of Memphis in 2023, put up five points on 1 of 2 shooting from the field and 1 of 1 from the 3-point line in nine minutes. The 5-11 point guard also grabbed two rebounds and doled out two assists.

All five players are expected to start the season with the G-League’s Santa Cruz Warriors.

Klay Thompson Extension

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported that extension talks between the Warriors and Klay Thompson are at a standstill.

Speaking on NBA Countdown on Sunday night, Wojnarowski said that there was a very good chance that Thompson could be a free agent next summer.

“I’m told that there has been absolutely no progress on a Klay Thompson extension in Golden State, that they are still apart on years and money,” he said. “There’s a very real possibility Klay Thompson goes into free agency next summer without a deal.”

Thompson, in the final year of his contract, is eligible to sign an extension until June 30. Thompson is eligible for a max extension that projects upwards of $50 million, but he will be 34 in February. Plus, he missed two-and-a-half seasons due to injury.

Granted, Thompson did play pretty well last season. He turned in his best season since being an all-star for five straight years, from 2014 to 2019. However, Thompson is not the defender that he once was,

Golden State also has salary concerns.  While the Warriors have regularly been willing to pay punitive luxury taxes, the creation of the second tax apron in the new CBA puts them in a more difficult spot.

Golden State has 10 players under contract for 2024-25, totaling $172 million. This includes Chris Paul’s nonguaranteed ($30 million), Kevin Looney ($8 million though only $3 million guaranteed), Jonathan Kuminga ($7.6 million club option), and Moses Moody ($5.8 million club option).

The Warriors are almost certain to keep Looney and Kuminga, though Moody’s status is a little more up in the air. Even if the Dubs cut Paul, they would be over the salary cap, and that does not include signing Thompson.

“This is a delicate negotiation,” former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers said on NBA Countdown. “From what I know and see, he (Thompson) wants to stay, and they want him to stay. Doesn’t mean it will happen. But it is a test … and this is probably the first real test.”

Draymond Green Status

According to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Draymond Green will miss the Warriors final two preseason games as he still recovers from a left lateral ankle sprain. Andrews added that the news puts Green in danger of missing the Golden State’s season opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 24.

While coach Steve Kerr said Green is considered “questionable” for the game against the Suns, he has been cleared to begin light on-court workouts since last Friday. But he has not been cleared for full-team practice or scrimmage yet. Green is slated to be reevaluated on Sunday.

“I just talked to him, and he felt good in his workout today,” Kerr said after today’s practice. “He’s moving around, he’s doing some drill work on the court and by the end of the week hopefully. he is playing some 3-on-3. We’ll reevaluate at that point.”

Green has sat out all of training camp as he suffered the injury during a pickup game at Chase Center the week before camp opened.

“I’m a pretty fast healer — so I feel like I’m improving fast, and it’s good,” Green said on media day, three days after he sprained the ankle. “[I] didn’t quite foresee this coming into the season, but everything happens for a reason. I think I’m excited because we have a great performance team, and I’ll be in even better shape by the time — whenever that is — when I start playing.”

Warriors’ Other Injuries

Green is not the only player to sit out the entire preseason thus far. Cory Joseph and Rodney McGruder also have yet to suit up.

Joseph returned to practice for the Warriors after sitting out most of camp and all three of their preseason games due to a back injury.

Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area has reported that the veteran point guard may play against the Sacramento Kings tomorrow.

Meanwhile, McGruder has cleared concussion protocol and resumed full practice. But the 32-year-old wing will not play against the Kings, per Johnson.

Daniel Benjamin

Daniel Benjamin

Daniel Benjamin is passionate about all things basketball, especially evaluating talent and analyzing teams, whether the NBA, college basketball, WNBA, G-League or women's college basketball. He also loves to provided insights and gambling incites on basketball.

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