Golden State Warriors: Juan Toscano-Anderson could be a major asset

There is a lot of talent on the roster now but one member of the Golden State Warriors who should not be overlooked is Juan Toscano-Anderson. He has the skills to be a major asset throughout next season.

The 28-year-old forward has only played 66 total NBA games — all of which coming at a strange time for the Dubs. Joining the team in 2019 in the aftermath of the Splash Brothers both being injured and Kevin Durant sailing away, JTA had an opportunity at the end of the year to pave a way for himself on a lottery team.

Earning a promotion from the G-League, Toscano-Anderson put up 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 13 games to close out the 2019-20 NBA season. He did just enough to remain on the roster for another year and was granted the chance to earn a real contract.

JTA responded by leaving it all out on the floor. He was routinely one of the Warriors’ hardest working players, diving for loose balls and hustling on defense. Toscano-Anderson found success as a scrappy defender who could get physical with opponents.

In the final month of the season, shortly after signing an official contract with the Warriors, JTA averaged 7.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 56.9 percent shooting from the floor — proving he belonged in the league.

Juan Toscano-Anderson will need to continue proving himself if he wants to remain in the Golden State Warriors’ rotation.

Of course, the job is never done at this level. Toscano-Anderson did everything asked of him up to this point, However, with a bit of depth at the wing lost due to Kelly Oubre Jr. leaving in free agency — JTA has yet another moment to seize in front of him.

Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green will obviously start while names like Otto Porter, Jonathan Kuminga and Nemanja Bjecila all battle with Toscano-Anderson for the remaining frontcourt minutes. There is also room for JTA to play small-ball center behind James Wiseman and Kevon Looney.

Getting a piece of the pie will be nothing new for Toscano-Anderson who has fought for everything he has in the NBA. And, his junkyard dog mentality will give him an edge at times where the Dubs need some toughness on the floor.

The deciding factor, however, will be Toscano-Anderson’s ability to create plays and hit 3-pointers. He’s a consistent shooter at nearly 40 percent from deep for his career but he has never shot with volume. Continuing to at least be reliable when he does attempt 3-pointers is key.

More so, Toscano-Anderson should look to build on the playmaking chops he showed last season. He dished 2.8 per game on just over 20 minutes of playing time. Matching Green as a prototypical point forward would make Toscano-Anderson an irreplaceable asset for the Warriors.

As an older player, the odds of JTA making any significant leaps in development are low. Yet, he has everything needed to be an impactful member of the wing rotation next season.