The Golden State Warriors have set the stage for a couple of intriguing training camp storylines over the later portions of the offseason.
Although most of the rotation is relatively set, their decision to add Brandon Williams and Georges Niang on partially-guaranteed deals plus Dalen Terry on an Exhibit-10 contract shows they're committed to having some sort of flexibility as they approach the season. It also means there will be a competition, likely between Terry and Williams, for the 15th roster spot.
But even beyond that, Golden State still needs to decide how they want to distribute their two-way contracts. Currently, they have LJ Cryer and Malevy Leons inked to two of their three spots, leaving second-round selection Lajae Jones and summer league standout Graham Ike on the outside looking in.
Given the Warriors' clear desire for competition in the preseason, though, don't be surprised if both of those pieces are brought in and given a chance to win a job in competition with Leons. Ike's case, in that scenario, is relatively clear—he's a traditional big man, and the Warriors still need depth at the position.
Jones' path to winning the job, therefore, lies on the defensive end of the court. If he can show consistent upside and intensity in the Warriors' system, the team should be more than willing to give him a shot.
Lajae Jones could be an impactful swing for the Warriors on a two-way contract
The Warriors have found some gems in the second round of the draft in recent years. They nabbed Will Richard just last offseason with the 56th overall pick, and he went on to provide valuable minutes and even a string of starts for Golden State as a rookie. Both Gui Santos and Quinten Post were also second-round selections.
Jones doesn't have the height or the floor-spacing skill set of Post, nor does he have the touch and finesse of Santos. But he does have a similar defensive upside to what Richard provided coming into the league.
At 6'6", Jones doesn't possess a massive wingspan—measuring in at just 6'7.5" before the Draft. But he showed major intensity during his final college season, and he flashed it again during his stint with the Warriors in Summer League. He has the lateral athleticism and the command over his body to be an immediate on-ball threat, and if he can pick up on the Warriors' rotations quickly, he has the upside to be an immediate rotation player if injuries make space for him to get some minutes.
Of course, his offense will be a concern. He averaged just 12.7 points and shot 42.7% from the field across 33 games last season at Florida State. There's no way he'd beat out Cryer for a two-way spot, and Ike likely possesses higher upside on the interior, at least on an immediate basis.
But Leons is certainly vulnerable even with a two-way contract signed, and if Jones can prove he has some immediate upside on the wing, he could be an enticing enough prospect that Golden State is willing to give him his opportunity.
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