When the Warriors released Avery Bradley before the start of the season, it was not without controversy.
As previously reported by Marcus Thompson, Steph Curry and Drummond Green both wanted to keep the veteran guard as the team’s 15th player.
His view – and this is a logical one – is that having a Bulldog on-ball defender is a good thing to have on your bench.
The Warriors couldn’t agree more.
So he released Bradley and signed Gary Peyton II.
Peyton played a little more than 17 minutes on Sunday in Golden State’s 119-107 victory – his longest run of the youth campaign – and gave the Warriors everything they needed from the last spot on their roster.
Peyton was not only a staunch defender, but he was also an offensive weapon, scoring 10 points in 4-of-10 shooting with two 3-pointers.
Peyton effectively played Andre Iguodala, who missed Sunday’s game due to a hip injury, and while he was younger and much less experienced, he played the role.
We can’t pretend that the implications of the luxury tax weren’t part of the move away from Bradley and toward Peyton — the Warriors are paying $6 million a season for a player who’s making $2 million and Peyton that. The kind of player that the Warriors might be able to be cute during the season, shaving a million or two off the total cost.
Or maybe Sunday and after that performance everything is over.
Either way, there’s no doubt that Golden State made the right move in going with Peyton on Bradley. While Ab-Taker is a fine player, he doesn’t bring the energy or two-way ability that Peyton has.
He’s the one guy who has a role on this – or any other – team.
root for the enemy
It’s great to see Harrison Barnes thriving. One of the greats in the league and a tireless worker, Barnes’ abilities never seemed to hold up to the hype of being the top recruit and No. 7 overall pick.
Now, he’s made a ton of money—over $150 million—and has a ring to his name. He’s not hurting.
But at 29 years old, it seems like Barnes is freaking out — from a really solid player to maybe something in Sacramento.
Barnes averages 28 points per game in the Kings’ first three games this year, 24 in 36 minutes on 7-of-13 shooting and 5-of-10 beyond the arc.
The UNC product is so sleek right now on both sides of the court – inside and out. There’s a newfound confidence in his game that I didn’t see in Sacramento last year (I try to watch a few Kings games every week).
Because of that, I don’t think he’s going to stay in Sacramento much longer—there are going to be title teams that really want him as the three-and-a-half-D wing.
I’m working with Utah Jazz Radio tonight, and they just said that Harrison Barnes is the missing piece in a championship team. They expect they’ll have a ton of suitors by the deadline.
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) 23 October 2021
Could the Warriors be one of those teams? Chances are low. Other teams will probably make better offers. But given that the Wings win the title and Wiggins looks nothing like the Wings winning the title, a 2015 title team reunion would hardly be out of place.
bench moby
The Warriors revamped their coaching staff last year, and it’s hard not to dwell on it during games.
Maybe it was just a Northern California rivalry, but judging by Steve Kerr, assistant Mike Brown, and bench newcomer Kenny Atkinson, there were calls for defensive intensity, offensive movement, and what I can only guess is for the Warriors. . ‘ hands to go up, as they were constantly testing the limits of their deodorant.
I don’t think there is one right way to coach. Sitting on the edge and not doing much can also work. But with a team that is equally experienced and young, I don’t think having an animated coaching staff is a bad thing. When they are in it, it’s hard for this Warriors team not to be in it.
And if it’s a Warriors team engaged, they’re going to be an extraordinarily tough team to beat.
