The Golden State Warriors have committed to keeping Marquese Chriss on the roster.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Golden State Warriors have officially taken their chances on Marquese Chriss, waiving Alfonzo McKinnie to make room for his spot on the roster.
Chriss has had a rocky NBA career thus far. Taken in the lottery by the Phoenix Suns, Chriss had an All-Rookie worthy year in season one but has since been jumping from team to team looking for a home.
Entering his fourth NBA season, Chriss will be playing for his fourth NBA franchise. He played in brief stints with the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers last year before landing in Golden State as a free agent.
Chriss’ reputation has taken quite a hit since his rookie season. Questions about his dedication and commitment to improving are serious concerns. Often times, Chriss lacks energy or awareness on the court.
As a result, no organization has been able to buy into keeping Chriss for the longterm. As for the Warriors, they might be willing to give him a legitimate chance.
The Dubs are desperate for depth in the frontcourt. With a dwindling rotation consisting of Kevon Looney, Draymond Green and Willie Cauley-Stein, an extra big in Chriss would go a long way. Having Chriss on the bench would relieve pressure from the rest of the Warriors’ core players.
Chriss certainly still has potential. He is athletic and can provide versatility to the Dubs defense if he straps in and begins to take his career more seriously. So far in the preseason, Chriss is averaging 9.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
This type of production would be more than enough to justify keeping Chriss on the roster this season. An occasional spark off the bench from him is all the Dubs need to feel like they made the correct move.