Warriors training camp primer: 5 storylines to follow as training camp begins

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors’ top six is clear in the eyes of coach Steve Kerr and just about anyone else who watched even a snippet of the playoffs.

With the re-signing of Kevon Looney this summer, the Warriors were able to maintain their championship-winning starting five from last season. Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Looney are locks to be the starting five come opening night. Jordan Poole will most likely be the first man off the bench.

But the rest of the rotation remains a mystery.

“We know those guys are all going to get playing time but from what happens from there, to me, it’s wide open,” Kerr said Thursday. “We have JaMychal [Green] and Donte [DiVincenzo] who have been a big part of rotations for great teams in this league. I have a lot of faith they will be able to come in and contribute at a high level, and we have got all these young guys fighting for spots. I’m excited about the competition that’s ahead.”

Other players expected to earn elevated rotation roles this season include Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman. The battle for those spots, though, begins Saturday when training camp opens.

Here are five storylines to follow:

What are realistic expectations for James Wiseman?

James Wiseman has been doing all the right things to prepare himself for what should be his first full training camp after COVID-19 and injuries impacted his first two.

Wiseman spent the entire summer working out and practicing, “getting a little bit better every day,” according to general manager Bob Myers. He’s the only player to have participated in every pick-up game this summer at Chase Center and hasn’t had any problems flare up in his surgically repaired right knee.

That’s good news for Wiseman and the Warriors.

After missing all of last season, this will be the campaign the Warriors can better determine what they have in the 2020 second overall pick. The Warriors brought back Looney, in part, to take some of the pressure off Wiseman’s shoulders as he continues to grow his game.

Those developmental steps resumed at summer league but will continue throughout the preseason.

“Happy that he’s healthy, now he can start the work,” Myers said. “It’s really about defining his role, putting him in positions to succeed… I’m hoping as the training camp goes on as the season goes on, he just keeps getting a little bit better, reading coverages and understanding our schemes.”

Added Kerr, “Now it’s a matter of experience. He just has to keep playing, and we have got to continue to be patient and allow that development to happen at an organic, natural rate.”

Will Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga step up?

After dipping their toes into the league last season as mainly fringe players, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are both expected to take the next step this season and earn more consistent spots in the rotation.

Moody played in 52 games (11 stars) and averaged 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in the regular season. The 19-year-old was tapped to step in for an injury Gary Payton II during the Western Conference Finals against the Mavericks and showed immense composure underneath the bright lights and made smart plays with the ball.

“Moses has a great shot right now to really take a spot in the rotation and make himself a really big part of this year’s team,” Kerr said.

Meanwhile, Kuminga might have a higher upside than Moody based on his athleticism and raw skillset alone but the Warriors want to see him be more consistent this season when it comes to running the floor, rebounding and being locked in on defense.

“Some of that just means playing a lot and figuring out the game, figuring out the NBA game, seeing the advantages, seeing when to attack, when not to attack,” Kerr said. “Most of that comes with experience. So he just needs to continue on the path he’s been on and I think he’ll be in good shape.”

What about the rookies?

This camp will be essential in the development of Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins as they begin to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NBA.

Though Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins missed summer league action because of injuries, both are expected to be good to go for camp.

Rollins, the No. 44 pick of this year’s draft, seems to be in a better position to stay with the NBA team than Baldwin, whom the Warriors selected No. 28 overall. Rollins seems to be in the prime position to be the Warriors’ No. 3 point guard behind Curry and Poole.

Meanwhile, Baldwin could spend considerable time this season down in Santa Cruz with the Warriors’ G League affiliate.

“We are not looking at him like he’s going to help us but we are looking at him like he could help us in the future,” Myers said of Baldwin. “He has all the attributes that usually lead to success: Skill, size, acumen. He looks healthy now.”

What will the Warriors do with their 15th roster spot?

Andre Iguodala announced Friday that he’s returning to the Warriors for his 19th and final NBA season. That leaves only one roster spot open for the competition. That is, if the Warriors decide to fill their 15th spot.

The Warriors could choose to leave their final roster spot vacant to avoid further luxury tax penalties.

Still, the Warriors have a way of finding surprise talents. They signed Gary Payton II last season after he spent his first five years as a fringe player.

Golden State has four players on training-camp deals — including explosive guard Mac McClung and Jerome Robinson, the second leading scorer on the Santa Cruz Warriors last season. They also have another two — Quinndary Weatherspoon and Lester Quinones — on two-way contracts.

Will one of those players impress the Warriors enough to be on the team’s opening night roster?

Will Warriors and Poole strike a deal before the deadline?

Poole is one of four players eligible for contract extensions, though his situation is the most pressing.

If the Warriors and Poole can’t come to an agreement on extension by Oct. 17, then he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer.

Poole is the Warriors’ most proven asset of their youth movement and his stock is clearly rising. He could choose to bet on himself and test the free agency waters next summer. Or he might decide to secure the bag before this season so he’s not playing with the pressure of earning more money in free agency.

Poole and his representatives will meet with the Warriors early next month for the first time after the team’s trip to Japan to play two exhibition games against Washington, Myers said.

“That’s about two weeks out from the deadline for him,” Myers said. “Where that will go, I don’t know. I know that they want to meet and I know we want to meet, and then we’ll see what the next two weeks give us.”