It’s time the Golden State Warriors sign talented big man

The Golden State Warriors’ big man depth has been tested early in the season, undoubtedly playing a role in their 9-10 record to date. Former number two overall pick James Wiseman is now in the G League, while offseason addition JaMychal Green hasn’t quite lived up to expectations either.

The most prominent proposed solution is trading for an experienced center, with Jakob Poeltl’s name most common in that speculation. The other option is for the Warriors to utilize their 15th roster spot on a veteran — perhaps someone like Dwight Howard who’s currently tearing it up in Taiwan. But what if Golden State take a different approach with a lesser known prospect?

The Golden State Warriors could address their big man depth by taking a punt on the undrafted Trevion Williams with one of their two-way spots.

Undrafted after four years of college ball at Purdue, Williams flashed moments of brilliance with the Boston Celtics in Summer League and then with Golden State during training camp. However, he was unable to land a two-way spot much to the disappointment of some, and is now plying his trade with the Warriors in Santa Cruz.

Williams has continued to show signs of promise in the G League, with his vision and playmaking an elite aspect to the 6’10” big man. He’s currently averaging 11.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in eight games, although recent numbers have been affected by the presence of Wiseman as the starting center.

Williams looks like someone who could thrive with greater talent around him, allowing him to utilize his passing to greater effect. No one’s suggesting the Warriors should give him the 15th roster spot, but reconsidering him on a two-way deal may be worth a look.

That would require Golden State to waive one of their current two-way players — Anthony Lamb or Ty Jerome. The former is currently part of Steve Kerr’s rotation, so fair to say he isn’t going anywhere. That leaves Jerome who was also part of the second unit while Donte DiVincenzo was out with a hamstring issue.

It appears Jerome is now simply insurance for Curry, DiVincenzo and Jordan Poole. How important is that position though? Any matchup without Curry feels like a tank game anyway, while the presence of Draymond Green in the Warriors second unit is enough ball-handling and playmaking next to Poole or DiVincenzo.

Could Williams help all that much? Maybe not. But at 22 and with a high IQ, he could actually be a steadier presence than Wiseman at this stage. Perhaps more enticingly, he has the potential to develop into a long-term player — as helpful as Lamb and Jerome are, they do feel like placeholders who won’t necessarily be with the Warriors for the long haul.

It’s an unlikely scenario but by the same token, don’t be surprised if Williams forges out an NBA career over the next few years. Whether that can be with the Warriors remains to be seen.