Ranking each Golden State Warriors player in tiers prior to season opener

Valuable veterans (2)

In this tier are Kevon Looney and Willie Cauley-Stein. This is the big-man tier as both the team’s starting and backup center are the only two entrees.

It’s rightfully so though. Looney and Cauley-Stein have both been in the league long enough to find their niche. For Looney, he’s all about hustle and capable defense. Cauley-Stein is similar yet a more significant offensive player.

This offseason, the team re-signed Looney, making him the only player outside of the Big 4 to make over the minimum. That’s important as the Warriors have shown trust in the young 23-year-old.

Last season, Looney averaged a career-high in points at 6.3 and rebounds at 5.2. It’s also notable that he shot 62.5% from the field. He’s efficient, can rebound and can switch onto guards. He may never be a star, but he’s certainly a player worth $5 million on the current market.

As for Cauley-Stein, he’s coming off his best professional season as well yet didn’t draw too much interest in the free-agent market. He averaged 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds. Those are solid numbers for the 26-year-old and will make him one of the more consistent threats on Golden State.

He’s injured for now, but when he returns to the starting lineup, he’ll show exactly why he’s the best center on this team.