The Golden State Warriors have finished off this offseason with a flurry of peripheral signings—most recently inking Summer League standout Graham Ike to their third and final two-way spot.
In theory, then, those three contract spots are settled. Both LJ Cryer and Malevy Leons, who saw some run last season in the Warriors' depleted rotation, will have the first shot at rotational minutes, while Ike will be available in a pinch if Golden State needs help behind Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Charles Bassey at the big man position.
But if there's one thing we know the Warriors want in training camp, it's competition. They've brought in numerous players on partially-guaranteed deals to compete for their 14th and 15th roster spots, and it's likely that the same goes for their two-way spots. Until things are set in stone, then, it's worth weighing the pros and cons of each of the pieces Golden State has available to take on those contracts.
Ranking the Warriors' two-way options now that Graham Ike has signed
1. LJ Cryer, PG
Cryer is the clear number one here. He looked solid during the limited stint he saw with the varsity squad last season, although his time was limited by an ankle injury. But in Summer League, he looked like a potentially important sharpshooter and secondary playmaker in this Warriors backcourt under the right circumstances, Across eight appearances between the California Classic and Las Vegas, Cryer averaged 14 points, 2.2 rebounds, and two assists while knocking down 41.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Out of all of these pieces, Cryer has the best shot at taking on significant NBA minutes this season, especially if De'Anthony Melton or Gary Payton II need to miss any time.
2. Graham Ike, C
Ike was a Summer League standout as well, averaging 10 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists during his stints with the team. He's relatively limited in terms of his offensive game, and it's unclear how viable he'll be if he needs to take on significant minutes at any point this season.
But he can rebound and play the traditional big man role, and the availability concerns surrounding both Porzingis and Horford mean Golden State needed some extra insurance there. Ike doesn't necessarily have a ton of NBA upside, but he's the type of two-way piece that can will likely fit a very certain role immediately upon his entry to the league. And it's one the Warriors may desperately need.
3. Nick Boyd, PG
Boyd will be with the Warriors on a training camp deal next month, and he's perhaps their most exciting piece not inked to a longer-term contract currently. He has some real offensive acumen with the ball in his hands, and his production in his final college season at Wisconsin was more than impressive. Across 35 games, he averaged 20.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while sinking 36.5% of his 3-point attempts.
It's hard to see a true path to Boyd making the final roster with Cryer already in one of the two-way spots, but don't be surprised if the rookie shows out in whatever minutes he sees during training camp and the preseason.
4. Malevy Leons, PF
Why rank Leons—who's seen actual NBA minutes and looks set to be a depth piece in the Warriors' frontcourt this season—behind a player who hasn't seen the court at the NBA level? The answer here is simple. Leons hasn't shown that he has an actual offensive bag at any point in his short career, and until he can prove that, he doesn't seem to truly be playable when the roster is fully healthy.
He looked outmatched physically even in Summer League, and although he shot 56.1% from the field during his stint there, you had to truly squint to see anything resembling a pro-caliber game. The Warriors seem to like him for his rebounding and defensive upside, but I'd take Boyd over him in a vacuum right now.
5. Alex Toohey, SF
Toohey, who was the Warriors' other second round draft pick last offseason alongside Will Richard, missed almost his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury. He profiles, for the most part, somewhat similarly to Leons—an undersized, awkward combo forward with some athletic upside and archetypal height for the position.
Toohey would be a pure upside swing here, just as he was in the Draft. He didn't seem ready to go up against NBA-caliber players when we saw him in last year's Summer League, and it's hard to imagine he's gained much strength while being off the court for a year. But there's some intriguing perimeter-shooting upside there, and I'd like to see what he has in his bag offensively.
Keep an eye on Toohey, but expect him to almost certainly wind up back in Santa Cruz this season.
6. Obi Agbim, SG
Agbim is an interesting one, and don't take it as an indictment on his game that he's ranked last here. He showcased a level of physicality and grit during his lone season against top college competition at Baylor, and he's a piece that could fit right into the Warriors system—especially considering what they tend to look for in guards sitting on the edge of the rotation.
But he wasn't a primary offensive option at Baylor, averaging just 10.7 points and shooting 37.5% from the field over the course of his final college season, and it's hard to see how he surpasses even Boyd for a real shot at a two-way spot. He's a solid flyer to take on Golden State's part as an undrafted free agent, but don't expect him to make a real push in training camp.
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