Despite numerous reports and speculation, the Warriors did not sign Dwight Howard or any other veteran center before training camp.
Howard, the eight-time NBA All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, reportedly met with Golden State last week and recently joined veterans Draymond Green and Chris Paul. in Los Angeles.
However, the new general manager of the Warriors, Mike Dunleavy Jr., chose not to add Howard to the mix.
“I’ll just say in general, we brought in maybe 40 or 50 guys this summer to check out, knowing agents and people around the league knowing we have two roster spots. that’s open,” Dunleavy told reporters Monday in San Francisco. “… The player you are talking about [Howard] it’s just one of many that we’ve brought and checked, and you know, I think now you’ll know better who we’re inviting to camp in a few days.
“But overall, we feel good about what we’ve done this summer and we’ll keep our options open as to who we need to add.”
The Warriors did not sign Howard, who played last season in Taiwan, but they did bring in 21-year-old center Usman Garuba to a two-way contract.
Garuba, who was selected as No. 21 overall to the Houston Rockets in the 2021 NBA Draft, giving the organization depth at center behind Kevon Looney. Garuba is currently the third tallest player on the roster behind Dario Šarić (6-foot-10), Looney (6-foot-9) and rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis (6-foot-9).
With training camp on the horizon, Golden State currently has two standard contract spots and one two-way contract still open. On Monday, the Warriors reportedly agreed to sign wing Rodney McGruder to compete for a roster spot.
They could also start the season without filling all 15 allotted roster spots, as they did last year.
“We don’t need to use it [both roster spots]but we’re open to it,” Dunleavy said Monday. “I think from that point, if there’s a need at the position or something that we really need, I think we’ve probably gone ahead and committed to that.
“The nice thing is that I think we have good versatility and optionality throughout the roster, so there’s nothing we really need to do right now. in camp.”
The Warriors will enter training camp with a roster filled with veteran players. Paul, Å arić and Cory Joseph will provide coach Steve Kerr’s lineup with experienced depth that was missing from last year’s roster that fell in the semifinals of the Western Conference.
“I don’t think we’re focused on anything right now about a guard, a big, a wing, a young player, an older player,” Dunleavy said. “We’re pretty open, and I think that’s a good position where we have flexibility and can evaluate to see what’s best for our team.”
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