Willie Cauley-Stein’s injury may pry open a spot for Omari Spellman

Omari Spellman may’ve once been on the outside looking in, but the Golden State Warriors may be forced to open a position for the former Villanova big man.

Heading into training camp the Golden State Warriors were increasingly optimistic about their chances into the new season but training camp couldn’t have opened in a worse way, as expected starting center Willie Cauley-Stein suffered injury.

Days later the Dubs Center rotation endured further setbacks as Kevon Looney tweaked his hamstring and Alen Smailgacic rolled his ankle, just days into training camp the Dubs find themselves with a shallow frontcourt.

The disappointment continued when it was announced Cauley-Stein would likely miss the first four games of the regular season. However, the silver lining is that Looney’s injury isn’t serious but it might be a better option to try recent acquisition Omari Spellman at the five for now.

The Warriors acquired Spellman from the Atlanta Hawks in the trade that sent Damian Jones to Georgia. In June 2018, Steve Kerr’s fondness for the big man was evident and his opinion never changed.

According to The Athletic’s (premium content) Anthony Slater, Kerr thought Spellman had a great workout with the team prior to the 2018 NBA Draft. However, while they may’ve prefer Spellman, their need for a guard sent them directly to Evans.

Although Spellman has struggled with his weight throughout his short NBA career thus far, the former Villanova man has finally made inroads over the summer losing 40 points as he looks to make himself a key rotation piece.

After missing out on Spellman last year, Coach Kerr finally has his man and can develop the big man he coveted in last year’s draft.

According to The Athletic’s (premium content) Anthony Slater, Kerr noted that Spellman could have a role on the team. He believes Spellman will bring to the team what they’ve been missing since the departure of Mo Speights.

Spellman clearly made an impact on Kerr but was likely to see his game time limited early into the campaign with the likes of Cauley-Stein and Looney ahead of him in the pecking order. But, with the injuries, Spellman has a chance to cement a spot in the rotation ahead of opening night against the Clippers.

Kerr realizes the quality that Spellman has in his arsenal and showcased his ability to stretch the floor effectively in his rookie year. As a rookie, Spellman nailed 44 3-pointers in 46 games played with the Hawks. He also shot 43.3 percent from long distance as a freshman at Villanova.

With a better physique Spellman could become a major asset for the new age of the Golden State Warriors and could easily find himself as a key contributor.