The Warriors had a plan for his or her first-round draft decide Patrick Baldwin Jr.
The No. 28 decide was slated to begin his rookie season within the G-League, with the Warriors’ affiliate in Santa Cruz.
That may have given the 19-year-old time to regulate to the tempo of the skilled recreation after one underwhelming school season at Wisconsin-Milwaukee within the mid-major Horizon League.
“We aren't taking a look at him like he’s going to assist us [this season], however we're taking a look at him like he might assist us sooner or later,” Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers stated final month. “I believe he begins [In the G-League], however I don’t wish to take away his likelihood to earn minutes… there’s [an] alternative for him if he can seize it.”
Effectively, he may need grabbed it.
Baldwin was arguably the Warriors’ most spectacular participant within the staff’s two preseason video games in Japan final week. In 25 minutes of play, he scored 19 factors and shot 5-of-8 from past the arc.
His ankle harm — ostensibly the explanation he slid No. 28 — appears to have healed. The participant we noticed on show in Japan regarded a lot nearer to the highest school prospect he as soon as was than a late first-round decide. If the rookie continues to play like this, the Warriors might want to rethink their plans.
The Warriors went to Japan with a set roster: Fifteen gamers and two guys on two-ways. The plan was solidified when Andre Iguodala signed on for yet another season final week.
And whereas the rotation was technically nebulous, as Myers famous earlier than the journey, the reality is that the Warriors additionally went to Japan with a reasonably good thought of how they might cut up up minutes among the many 13 gamers they count on to be within the lineup on recreation nights. Nobody in that group disqualified themselves with their play within the two video games in opposition to the Wizards.
The place does Baldwin match on this roster?
It’s the last word champagne downside. Different groups don’t have to fret about having too many good gamers and never sufficient minutes.
At 6-foot-9 and 220 kilos, Baldwin is a big participant by at present’s NBA requirements. He strikes like a wing — he glides — however he’s lengthy sufficient to be thought-about a doable small-ball heart sooner or later.
Pair that with a picture-perfect, silky easy jumper, and you've got a participant constructed for the trendy recreation. You've gotten a participant that ought to have the ability to assist a staff win instantly.
It doesn’t matter how outdated you're — there’s at all times a spot within the NBA for a catch-and-shoot ace.
And pairing that form of capturing with critical size shouldn't be G-League materials. I imply that in a great way.
However how do the Warriors get that on the ground at Chase Heart?
Might Baldwin steal some minutes from veteran ahead and Warriors newcomer JaMychal Inexperienced? Pair just a few of these and a handful of Iguodala minutes, and also you may need one thing. However each of these veterans signed one-year offers anticipating to play. And each can play. Can you're taking away a few of that taking part in time earlier than the season begins?
And the way will taking part in Baldwin jibe with the event plans for Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, who've earned and want extra taking part in time of their sophomore campaigns?
You possibly can see why the Warriors slated Baldwin for the G-League. It was simpler. Minutes are onerous to seek out in San Francisco. They're plentiful in Santa Cruz.
The unsavory fact is that this stuff normally handle themselves.
Baldwin’s robust play might have been a Japan unique. “Downside” solved.
Or JaMychal Inexperienced might play poorly within the Warriors’ closing preseason video games and disqualify himself from critical minutes. I doubt that occurs, however it’s definitely doable.
Maybe Iguodala decides that he solely needs to play 12 video games this season. There are a couple of minutes for Baldwin in that.
Then there’s the most probably possibility — somebody picks up an harm, scrambling the rotation.
The Warriors have three preseason video games remaining. Three extra alternatives for Baldwin to pressure his method into the rotation.
However it doesn't matter what the Warriors ultimately do with their first-round decide, Baldwin has proven he has the makings of a draft-day steal — somebody that may not solely assist the Warriors sooner or later however within the current as effectively.