Golden State Warriors: 3 Pivotal crossroads on the horizon

James Wiseman and the rookies

Despite minor concerns around Klay Thompson’s overall health after two years of being sidelined — most are confident the Splash Brother will return and be a high-impact player this season.

The same can not be said for James Wiseman.

Last year’s No. 2 overall pick, Wiseman is entering his sophomore season with a bit of an ultimatum. The Warriors are good this year, good enough to compete for a title. Consequently, Wiseman will not play any minutes he does not earn.

Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are already learning this lesson. The rookies have been limited all year and it is for a valid reason — Golden State is ready to win now.

Can they earn a spot in the rotation?

There is no rush for Wiseman, Kuminga or Moody to be meaningful players. Nevertheless, they are running out of time to earn a consistent spot in the rotation before the Dubs lock into playoff mode.

Over the next few months, the rookies will need to show some growth or risk falling out of the rotation when the stakes get higher. Luckily, there is not much pressure for Moody or Kuminga to thrive as the Dubs have plenty of depth in their positions.

As for Wiseman, the Warriors do not have the luxury of entering the postseason without him. They are going to need someone with size and athleticism to hold down the paint. Kevon Looney can only do so much.

Assuming Wiseman can return before the All-Star break, this leaves a few months for him to hit his stride and find his role with the team. Doing so would put the Warriors in a great position to compete — in contrast, failure would leave the Dubs with a glaring hole in their lineup for the playoffs.