Three takeaways from Warriors’ three California Classic summer league games originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
As the Warriors remain the only team yet to make a single move in NBA free agency, summer league already is underway. The Warriors on Tuesday concluded their three California Classic games at Chase Center, going 1-2 under Lainn Wilson, who will begin his first season as the head coach of their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz this year.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ three games on their home court. Their Las Vegas Summer League schedule starts Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at 8 p.m. PT.
The draft picks
Disclaimer: Overreacting to one, two or any summer league game is a federal offense in the Court of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Now that we have that taken care of, let’s break down the first impressions of Alex Toohey and Will Richard. Both of the Warriors’ draft picks had to sit out the team’s first game because their separate draft day trades hadn’t been made official by the league. The plan then was for Toohey and Richard to sit the second game and play the third, but Richard forced his way in after the trade was finalized.
Richard, in two games, flashed the two-way know-how he showcased throughout his four-year college career. On the first possession of his summer league debut, Richard took a swipe-down steal the other way for a layup. He scored 16 points in that first game and had two steals. Richard then dropped 12 points in his second game, but his overall shooting numbers were shaky.
Between the two games he played, Richard went 9 of 25 from the field (36 percent) and only made two of the 11 threes he attempted (18.2 percent). Richard’s shot, however, looks smooth and he scored in a variety of ways Tuesday by making a long two with his foot on the line, two mid-range jumpers, a little hook shot and a reverse layup. He also was a perfect 8 of 8 on free throws in the first game.
Though Toohey was taken four spots higher than Richard, he might need more time to develop. Richard will turn 23 years old in December, and Toohey just turned 21 in May. The game looked too fast for Toohey on Tuesday in the one game he played, and he didn’t hold back in his self-assessment after the Warriors’ loss to the Miami Heat.
In 24 minutes, Toohey was a minus-34, a number that feels made up. Toohey struggled to finish inside, scoring six points on 1-of-5 shooting while missing all three of his shots beyond the arc. He did make all four free throws.
Toohey added six rebounds and showed a clear concept of team basketball. He’s versatile defensively, but will need time adjusting to the size and speed of the NBA.
The two-way contract
Jackson Rowe is the only player signed to a two-way contract for the Warriors right now, and he clearly was their best player during these three games. He also is the oldest at 28.
Players can lean on Rowe’s leadership, who is bought into doing all the small things to make an impact, should Steve Kerr call his number this season. Rowe was one of two Warriors to play all three games, averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. He shot 55 percent (11 of 20) and went 3 of 8 on threes (37.5 percent).
Kerr hasn’t shied from using his two-way players in the past, and Rowe continues to grow into a player the Warriors should be able to trust when they need him.
After getting his first taste of the NBA last season in six games, Rowe is focused on his defense and rebounding to get on the court. He showed strength in the post and wasn’t hesitant in his decision-making. Rowe represented the Warriors in the first-ever All-California Classic Team.
My ballot: Rowe (Warriors), David Jones-Garcia (Spurs), Cole Swider (Lakers), Keshad Johnson (Heat), LJ Cryer (Warriors)
The others
Cryer: Like Rowe, the former college star played in each of the Warriors’ three games and had a solid showing. He’s a smaller guard listed at 6-foot-1 but a sturdy 200 pounds and will have to either prove himself as a knock-down shooter or defensive pest. Well, he can shoot the hell out of it.
Over his five-year college career – three at Baylor and two at Houston – Cryer averaged 13.5 points with a 41.3 3-point percentage. The threat he presents letting it fly from deep has translated thus far, going 7 of 15 (46.7 percent) on threes. The Warriors signed Cryer to an Exhibit 10 contract after going undrafted.
Taran Armstrong: Signed out of Australia’s NBL last season, Armstrong’s development continues to be intriguing. The 23-year-old says he has gained 17 pounds of muscle since joining the Warriors in late February, and it’s quite obvious. He has great vision as a 6-foot-6 point guard and had 13 assists with just two turnovers in two games.
The next step for Armstrong is his outside shot. Armstrong went 3-of-12 shooting (25 percent) and 2 of 7 on threes (28.6 percent). He was given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and is expected to begin the season on a two-way contract.
Isaiah Mobley: The older but smaller brother of Cleveland Cavaliers star Evan Mobley was the Warriors’ leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points in the two games he played. Mobley was efficient around the rim, going 10 of 17 (58.8 percent) and making eight of his nine free throws.
Standing three inches shorter than his younger brother, the 25-year-old is a 6-foot-8 big man who is comfortable playing the four and five. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, Mobley has played 23 games in the NBA but averaged 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the G League last season.
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Three takeaways from Warriors’ three California Classic summer league games
As the Warriors remain the only team yet to make a single move in NBA free agency, summer league already is underway. The Warriors on Tuesday concluded their three California Classic games at Chase Center, going 1-2 under Lainn Wilson, who will begin his first season as the head coach of their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz this year.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ three games on their home court. Their Las Vegas Summer League schedule starts Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at 8 p.m. PT.
The draft picks
SIGN UP HERE Disclaimer: Overreacting to one, two or any summer league game is a federal offense in the Court of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Now that we have that taken care of, let’s break down the first impressions of Alex Toohey and Will Richard. Both of the Warriors’ draft picks had to sit out the team’s first game because their separate draft day trades hadn’t been made official by the league. The plan then was for Toohey and Richard to sit the second game and play the third, but Richard forced his way in after the trade was finalized.
Richard, in two games, flashed the two-way know-how he showcased throughout his four-year college career. On the first possession of his summer league debut, Richard took a swipe-down steal the other way for a layup. He scored 16 points in that first game and had two steals. Richard then dropped 12 points in his second game, but his overall shooting numbers were shaky.
Between the two games he played, Richard went 9 of 25 from the field (36 percent) and only made two of the 11 threes he attempted (18.2 percent). Richard’s shot, however, looks smooth and he scored in a variety of ways Tuesday by making a long two with his foot on the line, two mid-range jumpers, a little hook shot and a reverse layup. He also was a perfect 8 of 8 on free throws in the first game.
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Though Toohey was taken four spots higher than Richard, he might need more time to develop. Richard will turn 23 years old in December, and Toohey just turned 21 in May. The game looked too fast for Toohey on Tuesday in the one game he played, and he didn’t hold back in his self-assessment after the Warriors’ loss to the Miami Heat.
In 24 minutes, Toohey was a minus-34, a number that feels made up. Toohey struggled to finish inside, scoring six points on 1-of-5 shooting while missing all three of his shots beyond the arc. He did make all four free throws.
Toohey added six rebounds and showed a clear concept of team basketball. He’s versatile defensively, but will need time adjusting to the size and speed of the NBA.
The two-way contract
Jackson Rowe is the only player signed to a two-way contract for the Warriors right now, and he clearly was their best player during these three games. He also is the oldest at 28.
Players can lean on Rowe’s leadership, who is bought into doing all the small things to make an impact, should Steve Kerr call his number this season. Rowe was one of two Warriors to play all three games, averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. He shot 55 percent (11 of 20) and went 3 of 8 on threes (37.5 percent).
Kerr hasn’t shied from using his two-way players in the past, and Rowe continues to grow into a player the Warriors should be able to trust when they need him.
After getting his first taste of the NBA last season in six games, Rowe is focused on his defense and rebounding to get on the court. He showed strength in the post and wasn’t hesitant in his decision-making. Rowe represented the Warriors in the first-ever All-California Classic Team.
My ballot: Rowe (Warriors), David Jones-Garcia (Spurs), Cole Swider (Lakers), Keshad Johnson (Heat), LJ Cryer (Warriors)
The others
Cryer: Like Rowe, the former college star played in each of the Warriors’ three games and had a solid showing. He’s a smaller guard listed at 6-foot-1 but a sturdy 200 pounds and will have to either prove himself as a knock-down shooter or defensive pest. Well, he can shoot the hell out of it.
Over his five-year college career – three at Baylor and two at Houston – Cryer averaged 13.5 points with a 41.3 3-point percentage. The threat he presents letting it fly from deep has translated thus far, going 7 of 15 (46.7 percent) on threes. The Warriors signed Cryer to an Exhibit 10 contract after going undrafted.
Taran Armstrong: Signed out of Australia’s NBL last season, Armstrong’s development continues to be intriguing. The 23-year-old says he has gained 17 pounds of muscle since joining the Warriors in late February, and it’s quite obvious. He has great vision as a 6-foot-6 point guard and had 13 assists with just two turnovers in two games.
The next step for Armstrong is his outside shot. Armstrong went 3-of-12 shooting (25 percent) and 2 of 7 on threes (28.6 percent). He was given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and is expected to begin the season on a two-way contract.
Isaiah Mobley: The older but smaller brother of Cleveland Cavaliers star Evan Mobley was the Warriors’ leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points in the two games he played. Mobley was efficient around the rim, going 10 of 17 (58.8 percent) and making eight of his nine free throws.
Standing three inches shorter than his younger brother, the 25-year-old is a 6-foot-8 big man who is comfortable playing the four and five. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, Mobley has played 23 games in the NBA but averaged 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the G League last season.
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