Blue Man Hoop
Fansided

Why losing Otto Porter Jr. will be so detrimental for Warriors

By Nathan Beighle

PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 24: Otto Porter Jr. #32 of the Golden State Warriors points during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on February 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The Golden State Warriors won 132-95. 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 Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 24: Otto Porter Jr. #32 of the Golden State Warriors points during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on February 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The Golden State Warriors won 132-95. 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 Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Golden State Warriors lost out on Otto Porter Jr. this offseason as he signed with the Toronto Raptors on a two-year deal.

The Dubs didn’t match the deal for the forward who started several games in the NBA FInals, and with watching Nemanja Bjelica also announcing he’s heading to Europe to play with a Turkish team, the Warriors are going to be without either of their stretch-four talents.

The Golden State Warriors watched former top-five pick Otto Porter Jr. sign elsewhere, and it’ll be difficult for the Dubs to adjust to his absence.

Unless they replace them, losing out on both, more specifically Porter Jr., is going to force head coach Steve Kerr to shy away from small-ball lineups. Porter Jr. was the main three-point shooting big man, but Bjelica did provide that with limited defensive versatility as well.

The blow would be easier to take if Bjelica returned, but without both, the Warriors’ infamous small-ball lineup is in jeopardy.

Now, they can go into a much smaller version of a small-ball lineup that has Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins in the frontcourt, but that lineup is often abused on the glass.

Porter Jr. corrected that flaw which is why he started in the Finals. Offensively, his three-point shooting was key.

He shot 46% from the field and 37% from deep. Portter Jr.’s three-point shooting was above the team average. He averaged 1.3 triples per game and shot over 40% from deep during the playoffs. Porter Jr. had a 62% effective field goal percentage during the playoffs.

Defensively, it was his rebounding that mattered the most. Porter Jr. brought down 9.3 rebounds per 36 minutes during the regular season and then 6.3 rebounds per 36 minutes during the postseason.

There were players on the market like forward Serge Ibaka, but he’s already been snatched up.

There are some other options, but none are capable of playing the stretch-four position like Porter Jr. The Warriors will likely ask second-year forward Jonathan Kuminga to step up and be that small-ball four.

Next. Top 30 Golden State Warriors players in franchise history. dark

If he can be as valuable in the role as Porter Jr., the Warriors will be set, but that’s yet to be seen and will be worth watching in his game during the Las Vegas Summer League.

Home/Warriors News