As we round into the doldrums of the NBA offseason, the Golden State Warriors are in a familiar place.
Their offseason business hasn't yet concluded, and because of how top-heavy their cap sheet is, they'll likely need to fill their final two roster spots with veteran minimum contributors. Plenty of solutions have been floated to this point. Kelly Olynyk and Georges Niang would represent additional support in the frontcourt, while pieces like Dalen Terry and Brandon Williams would provide some extra ball-handling and perimeter shooting in the backcourt.
Whoever is signed will likely come to play a major role for Golden State. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody out until at least mid-season, they virtually have no choice but to grab someone who's able to provide reliable minutes in the interim.
From a certain perspective, though, this makes the Warriors' decisions about their two-way spots almost as intriguing. As of now, Malevy Leons and LJ Cryer are locked into two of the three contractual openings.
Perhaps one is elevated by the start of the season. But one of the Warriors' Summer League standouts, big man Graham Ike out of Gonzaga, still sits in limbo as the season creeps closer. Does he ultimately have a path to the roster?
Graham Ike could be an impactful contributor— but he'll need to depend on the remainder of the Warriors' offseason dominoes
From an outside perspective, it's easy to see why Ike went undrafted. Although he comes from a championship program in Gonzaga, he's slightly undersized for the center position, and outside of pick-and-roll looks and interior chances, he doesn't present much offensively.
But it was easy to forget that when he took the court for the Warriors in Summer League. Ike was one of Golden State's most impressive contributors across the nine game he appeared in, averaging 10 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while knocking down 48.4% of his attempts from the field.
Ike's case for a two-way spot is also relatively clear. Although the Warriors added Charles Bassey on a guaranteed contract after they lost Quinten Post to a offer sheet from the Memphis Grizzlies, the center rotation is still under imminent threat of injury. That's an unavoidable reality with both Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis on the roster, and it's one the Warriors may look to account for by adding a rebounding big man like Ike on a two-way deal.
If the Warriors are going to sign two veterans to fill their final pair of roster spots, though, that doesn't leave room for either Cryer or Leons to be elevated from their two-way spots. Golden State has also yet to sign Lajae Jones, the 6'7" wing whom they selected at 54th overall in this year's draft.
Perhaps Jones gets released— like the Warriors chose to do last year with Alex Toohey. But it feels like the most likely scenario is that Jones will have a two-way spot by the time it's all said and done. As much as Ike may have earned his shot with his summer league performance, his addition likely is not a priority at this point.
If things work out in his favor, though, look for him to be the first call the Warriors make when they go to fill that final opening.
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