The Golden State Warriors are in desperate need of center reinforcements as they play without Kristaps Porzingis, and Charles Bassey's return on Saturday night against the Phoenix Suns provided just that.
Bassey was limited to only 13 minutes after missing the first two games of the season due to knee tendinitis, but he made the most of it in an impressive performance that should raise some hope as the Warriors search for an answer at center.
Charles Bassey hints at solution for Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis problem
Bassey was everywhere on both ends of the floor in his brief time, playing with energy to finish with 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting. Golden State also finished as a +3 in his minutes, but that mattered little as they fell to a 131-122 defeat.
After a strong finish to last season with the Warriors on a 10-day contract, Bassey earned another minimum deal with the franchise as a third center behind Porzingis and Al Horford. Yet he's far from a typical third-string center, with Golden State suddenly needing Bassey desperately with Porzingis out indefinitely, and with 40-year-old Horford on managed minutes and resting on one side of back-to-backs.
If Golden State don't make a trade to address their center position in the coming weeks, this presents as arguably the biggest opportunity Bassey has ever had during his career, and as a real make-or-break period for the sixth-year center who played for no less than four different teams last season.
The Warriors have been forced to start undrafted rookie Graham Ike over the last two games, but Bassey could easily take that spot rather quickly with his increased size, athleticism and experience.
Warriors have ongoing center concern even if Charles Bassey plays well
The issue for Golden State is even if Bassey plays well and enters the starting lineup, a frontcourt combination of he and Draymond Green provides very little in the way of spacing -- which is exactly why they got Porzingis in February and Horford in free agency last year.
Ike has made two three-pointers over the last two games and Bassey was working on his perimeter shot in training camp, but much like Green they're not going to earn the respect of opposing defenses in a way the Warriors need from that position.
In an ideal world the Warriors will find a starting quality big man sooner rather than later. Perhaps Bassey can be an answer in the meantime, and leave Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the front office with time to evaluate their options.
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