Warriors: Digging deeper into Dunleavy and Kerr comments ahead of training camp
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SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy Jr. spoke with reporters a week before Warriors training camp is set to open on Oct. 2. The Warriors are intent on proving the dynasty has plenty left in the tank.
Here are some takeaways from their comments.
Open roster spots
Around 40-to-50 players came through Chase Center for workouts throughout the summer, Dunleavy said. Some of those names include Dwight Howard, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Kent Bazemore. The Warriors will have some competition at training camp for two open roster spots and a two-way spot available.
They may not use both roster spots and there is no urgent positional need on the roster — the team aims to add the best player available.
“I think maybe we have already pursued and committed to that,” Dunleavy said. “Nice thing is I think we have good versatility and optionality throughout the roster, so nothing that we absolutely have to do right now. We are bringing in a mix of different players that we think can do some different things, and we’ll evaluate in camp.
“But I don’t think we have our sights set on any one thing right now in terms of a guard, a big, a wing, a young player, an old player. We are kind of open, and I think that’s a great position to be in where we have flexibility and can kind of evaluate to see what’s the best for our team.”
Earlier Monday, the Warriors signed former first-round pick Usman Garuba to a two-way contract and see him as a player with similar traits to Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. He’s a versatile and dogged defender who could come into a regular role if he finds his niche on offense.
Kuminga’s next step
The Warriors’ veterans and Kerr pointed to a discombobulated locker room last season as one of the reasons for their early playoff exit. Green punching Jordan Poole in training camp signaled a major disconnect between veteran and young player.
Moves to swap Poole for Chris Paul, sign Dario Saric and bring back Gary Payton II to surround an aging core signaled the Warriors going all-in on experience over youth. But best believe all eyes are on 20-year-old Kuminga to establish himself as the young, athletic infusion to an older, established team in his third NBA season.
Kuminga had an up-and-down season and fell out of the rotation in the playoffs, but he’ll need to evolve as a defender, rebounder and embrace his role as an off-ball scorer (perhaps with some help from Paul at point guard) to come into his own.
“I’m excited about JK. He’s had a really good summer. I was getting reports routinely when I was overseas and the coaches were all raving about him,” Kerr said. “Saying that he’s really worked hard and understood what’s needed from him. I think it will be very helpful for him to play with Chris Paul. Chris has a way of making the game easier for people. I anticipate them spending some time on the court together and Chris helping to unlock some of that potential.”
Friendly schedule?
The Warriors’ preseason last year trip to Japan to play exhibition games against the Washington Wizards threw off the team’s rhythm a bit and may have contributed to the rocky start, Kerr said. Japan was a trip of a lifetime, but the Warriors are happy to have a traditional beginning to the year and should look at a friendly start to the season as an opportunity to get a hot start.
Seven of their first nine games are on the road. Beginning Nov. 11, the Warriors play the majority of their games at home and only travel outside the Pacific Division twice until Jan. 12 — to Portland on Dec. 17 and to Denver on Christmas.
“I never pay too close attention to the schedule because it is what it is. You’re going to play 41 at home, 41 on the road, and you just go take it a week at a time,” Kerr said. “I do think we need to have a good training camp. I think it’s imperative that we get off to a better start this year, not just in terms of our record but in terms of our preparation. I think it will be, frankly, very helpful that we are not going overseas; that we’ll be here.”
The Warriors started 0-5 on the road last year en route to a dismal 11-30 road record. Kerr said overall team discombobulation and poor defense as a root issue for last year’s team that translated into a poor road record. Still, there’s an opportunity for a fast start. Golden State started 18-2 in their 2022 championship season, which provided cushion for the low points later that spring heading into the playoffs.
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