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Golden State Warriors make much needed addition with seven-foot center

By Peter O'Keefe

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 07: Jayce Johnson #36 of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass under pressure from Colin Castleton #26 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a 2023 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 07: Jayce Johnson #36 of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass under pressure from Colin Castleton #26 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a 2023 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors may be without a genuine seven-footer on their current roster, but they’ll get a good look at one during training camp in the form of 26-year-old Jayce Johnson.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday that the Warriors have signed Johnson to a training camp exhibit 10 deal, providing the big man an opportunity to push for a potential two-way contract with the team for next season.

The Golden State Warriors’ much needed search for big man depth has extended to seven-foot center Jayce Johnson.

Johnson is a product of the Golden State’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, having averaged nearly 26 minutes in 32 games for the Warriors last season. Originally undrafted out of Marquette in 2020, Johnson is pushing for his first NBA opportunity.

He played three games during the Warriors’ recent Summer League stint in Las Vegas, though he averaged just 14.3 minutes as time was split between he and fellow big men Reggie Perry and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Johnson was the leading rebounder in the G League last season, averaging a monstrous 13.6 rebounds per game. He also added 9.4 points on 58.3% shooting from the field, 1.3 blocks, and recorded a healthy plus-minus of +3.4.

Golden State only have one genuine center on their roster right now in starting big man Kevon Looney, while possessing small-ball options in Draymond Green and free agent addition Dario Saric.

After dealing James Wiseman at February’s trade deadline, the Warriors are yet to find a seven-footer they deem suitable for a place on the roster. It’s now up to Johnson to see if he can fit the bill set by Golden State General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. earlier in the offseason.

"“We gotta be careful with the way we play, with the way the league works, just bringing in somebody who is tall. You got to be skilled, you got to have feel, you got to know how to play…We’ll always prioritize that”, Dunleavy said."

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Johnson will join former lottery pick Jerome Robinson on a training camp deal, while the Warriors will hold workouts with Juan Toscano-Anderson, Kent Bazemore, Tony Snell, Trey Burke, Dion Waiters and Harry Giles III over the next two weeks.

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