Golden State Warriors: 3 players that can step if Andrew Wiggins can’t play at home

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: Juan Toscano-Anderson #95 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a basket in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Chase Center on March 07, 2020 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: Juan Toscano-Anderson #95 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a basket in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Chase Center on March 07, 2020 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Golden State Warriors may be forced to play home games without starting small forward Andrew Wiggins, and if that actually happens, it could be far more difficult to use home court to their advantage.

The reason Wiggins would have to miss games is not only because he’s unvaccinated for Covid-19, but combine that with San Francisco’s vaccine mandate on indoor events, and Wiggins is looking unlikely to be able to compete.

The Golden State Warriors may not have starting small forward Andrew Wiggins for home games. In his absence, who should be expected to step up?

He was denied a religious exemption from the league which was basically the last straw the forward could’ve used to avoid said mandate.

Assuming his stance doesn’t change knowing he’ll leave around $15 million on the table, the Warriors need to find out a way to manage without their second-best scorer from last season. It will be a brutal blow for the Warriors if Wiggins opts out for the home games.

That said, they can soften the blow by managing the lineups well and figuring out who can step up. Let’s dive into three players that may be able to increase their role if Wiggins maintains his stance.