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Golden State Warriors lose opportunity at potential two-way center

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball on Omer Yurtseven #77 of the Miami Heat at Chase Center on January 03, 2022 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball on Omer Yurtseven #77 of the Miami Heat at Chase Center on January 03, 2022 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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If the Golden State Warriors are still on the lookout to add another big man to their 13-strong roster, then their best available option for a two-way contract has just been snapped up.

After failing to garner a qualifying offer with the Miami Heat, Omer Yurtseven has landed himself a standard two-year contract with the Utah Jazz according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Omer Yurtseven joins Jay Huff as potential two-way eligible big men to cross off the Golden State Warriors’ radar.

Many Warrior fans were interested in the thought of the 6’11” center, particularly given he still held eligibility for a two-way deal. Some may remember him from a standout Summer League performance against Golden State in August 2021, with Yurtseven recording 25 points, eight rebounds and three blocks against a Warrior team that included Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Gary Payton II.

The Turkish big man was evidently not available on a two-way contract, successfully waiting out the opening few weeks of free agency before officially securing himself a deal with the Jazz.

Yurtseven played two seasons with Miami after going undrafted in 2020. He appeared in just nine games with the franchise last season, but played 56 the year before. He averaged 12.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 12 starts for the Heat in his rookie season.

Yurtseven’s signing with Utah comes a day after another potential center, Jay Juff, was signed to a two-way deal by the NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Huff averaged 15 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.9 blocks during the 2022-23 G League season.

With three two-way slots now available to NBA teams, one would expect the Warriors to fill one with an additional center. While General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. didn’t appear desperate to find more size in comments last week, the current roster does lack options behind starting center Kevon Looney.

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Golden State did make the pivotal signing of Dario Saric who will undoubtedly play significant time as a small-ball five, as will future hall-of-famer Draymond Green. The Warriors also drafted Trayce Jackson-Davis who impressed in two Summer League outings, opening up the prospect of him potentially having a limited role with the team in his rookie year.

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