The Golden State Warriors, if anything, have showed their commitment to flexibility and competition in the later parts of this offseason.
With two roster spots left to fill after the return of Gary Payton II, Golden State has only pledged partially-guaranteed and Exhibit-10 deals to a number of players, setting the stage for a competition in training camp between a number of potential contributors. Georges Niang seems to be locked into the frontcourt, but Brandon Williams and Dalen Terry will need to compete for the final guaranteed roster spot.
Even though second-round selection Lajae Jones remains unsigned, one would imagine he'll get the chance to compete for a two-way contract—even considering the Warriors' decision to bring back former second-round pick Alex Toohey on an Exhibit-10 deal.
But as the landscape of their potential two-way deals starts to take shape, it doesn't seem as though Golden State is making space for Summer League standout Graham Ike, who could provide insurance at the center position with his traditional, interior offensive skill set.
The implications of this decision are potentially fascinating. If Ike isn't coming back, are the Warriors fully comfortable entrusting Charles Bassey with extensive minutes over the course of the season? Where does this leave Jones and Malevy Leons?
The Warriors dont' seem to be set to bring on Graham Ike for their training camp competition
Here's how the Warriors' competition for their two-way contracts seems to be unfolding right now. LJ Cryer needs to be a lock as potential backcourt depth for Golden State, and he did more than enough in Summer League to justify that status. That leaves Leons, Toohey, and potentially Jones to compete for the final two spots.
Ike, in theory, could jump into the competition. But if he was going to replace anyone on the roster currently, it would likely be Leons. The Warriors' decision to bring in Toohey shows they're prioritizing more of that combo forward depth than they are depth at the center position. The Niang signing serves as evidence of this as well.
That could be a smart move. If Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis are able to play 60 games each this season, rotating in a rebounding big man like Charles Bassey should be enough to help the Warriors get over the hump, and they can always shuffle things around or make a move if the need becomes more dire. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody out until at least mid-season, Golden State may believe its need in the frontcourt is more pressing.
That still leaves space for Jones to claim the third two-way spot alongside Cryer and one of Leons/Toohey. He has major defensive upside on the wing, and if he can start to hit his perimeter shots more consistently during the preseason, there's a case for him to have a similar developmental trajectory to Will Richard.
But even if Ike gets an Exhibit-10 contract to join the competition, that leaves him on the outside looking in of any path to the roster. After averaging 10 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 48.4% from the field across nine Summer League appearances, it's a disappointing outcome for the Gonzaga product.
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