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Golden State Warriors: Counting on unproven role players is a problem

By Nathan Beighle

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 24: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 24, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 24: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 24, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors will be in uncharted waters for the bulk of this season as they count on unproven role players for much of their production.

After a hectic offseason, the Golden State Warriors had to theoretically rebuild their roster, something they certainly may not have been planning to do. However, Kevin Durant left, and the roster needed to be filled out.

Andre Iguodala was traded, Livingston retired after being waived, and the Warriors will bring in three rookies to the 15-man roster as well. It won’t just be those rookies that are new to the culture that’s been built the last half a decade.

Players like Alec Burks, Willie Cauley-Stein, Glenn Robinson III, Omari Spellman and then the three rookies haven’t had much playoffs experience and each hasn’t proven to thrive on a championship-caliber team. Golden State will be asking them to help lead them to the playoffs.

That’s a recipe for success.

Even ESPN’s Zach Lowe noted that the Warriors may be a “borderline” playoff team because of their inconsistent personnel.

"And yet. They are relying on so many guys who might not crack rotations on lottery teams. One guy who would — Willie Cauley-Stein — is already injured. Who is their fifth starter? Seriously, start listing names! Threading all those interior passes before the defense recovers from blitzing Curry requires high hoops IQ, and the Warriors suffered major interior passing brain drain."

Even those non-stars that are returning have proven that they can’t be trusted to create their own offense. The Dubs roster is paper-thin after they traded for a fourth max-contract player, and that’ll hamper them moving forward.

The Golden State Warriors can’t use that mindset heading into the season obviously.

In the past, many of the players they’ve brought in have excelled. Glenn Robinson III has been a lockdown defender and shot 40% from deep. Alec Burks did average double figures for three straight seasons. These players aren’t just random free agent signing but rather gambles.

What matters is that on this championship-caliber team, those players step into their role and excel. They’ll have a specific role. Steve Kerr will make sure of that. But, it’ll be about performing well in the minutes given to them.

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Who can create their own offense? Who can be efficient? Most of all, who can be consistent? As those become answered throughout the season, we’ll be separating the contenders from the pretenders right in time for the trade deadline.

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