Golden State Warriors waive Chris Boucher on Friday. NBA insiders reveal a couple early names on Dubs’ Summer League squad.
The reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors surprisingly waived 6-foot-10 forward Chris Boucher on Friday, opening up the team’s second two-way contract spot.
Boucher played 20 games with the organization’s G League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors on per game averages of 11.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 22.2 minutes. He shot 46.9 percent from the field, 22.0 percent from behind the arc (50 attempts) and 61.8 percent from the free throw line.
In addition, Boucher appeared in a single game with Golden State, recording one rebound in 1.3 minutes vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.
When asked about Boucher’s status immediately following the draft, Warriors general manager, Bob Myers, responded with the following:
Warriors still have two open two-way spots. Still possible they bring Chris Boucher back. Undecided. The Quinn Cook experience made them realize they may need guys who are ready to step in if needed, Myers said. pic.twitter.com/rA7QhhEnrB
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 22, 2018
“We’re still learning about the position, what’s the best way to utilize it,” said Myers. “I think we learned that, for our team, we might need more guys that can step in, less development.”
Although some may be a bit confused considering how much potential Boucher displayed after coming back from ACL surgery, it was clear Boucher’s game was still in need of some fine tuning, and a championship team like the Warriors needs a guy who can step in at a moment’s notice.
Rather than spend resources toward developing their two-way contract players, the team has obviously decided to sign guys whom they believe are NBA ready now.
In other news, NBA insiders and local reporters have started revealing names on Golden State’s Summer League squad. The Summer League Dubs are expected to participate in both the 2018 California Classic Summer League in Sacramento, as well as the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League.
Some names we know will be on the Warriors' Summer League team: Jordan Bell, Damian Jones, Jacob Evans (Cincinnati), Marcus Derrickson (Georgetown), Kendrick Nunn (Oakland), Abudushalamu Abudurexiti (China), Keenan Evans (Texas Tech) and Jordan Howard (Central Arkansas)
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) June 22, 2018
Jordan Bell, Damian Jones and Jacob Evans are all confirmed to be expected for Summer League. Chris Haynes of ESPN tweeted out that Jordan Howard out of Central Arkansas will also join the Dubs for the summer, while Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reported that Marcus Derrickson out of Georgetown has agreed to a Summer League deal with the defending champs.
Kendrick Nunn out of Oakland University in Michigan will also be joining per Ian Begley of ESPN; Baylor’s Nuni Omot broke his own news via Twitter; and ESPN’s Chris Haynes announced earlier this month that Elijah Brown, son of Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, will be with the Warriors this summer
Keenan Evans out of Texas Tech is another name expected to be with Golden State according to Mark Medina of Mercury News and Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area did a write-up on Chinese prospect Abudushalamu Abudurexiti joining GSW.
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Golden State assistant Willie Green will be the Summer League squad’s head coach. Sea Dubs head coach Aaron Miles will be one of Green’s assistants.