Frank Vogel didn’t come to Golden State to blend in. The new Warriors assistant coach made it clear he sees a team that can still win big, and he believes the path back starts on the defensive end.
Vogel, who spent last season with the Dallas Mavericks under Jason Kidd, said the presence of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green gives the Warriors a real foundation to build on. “Any team with Steph and Draymond can win; they've just had injuries the last couple years.
That's the only reason. So, that starting point alone gives you confidence that you can win at a high level,” said Vogel.
That belief helped sell him on Steve Kerr’s staff, but Green was the other major draw. Vogel pointed to the former Defensive Player of the Year’s edge and physical presence as a key reason he wanted the job.
“You want your defense to have teeth, you know what I mean? And he (Draymond Green) scared the s- out of me every time I played against the Warriors. I know that if he's playing, it's going to be hard to win that game, and it's going to be hard to score.”
Vogel also sounded energized by the chance to work with Golden State’s younger players, specifically Brandin Podziemski and recent No. 11 overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg. He added that he’s looking forward to coaching center Kristaps Porzingis, a former No. 4 overall pick who has averaged 1.8 blocks per game over his 10-year career when healthy.
A veteran head coach for 12 seasons, Vogel has already worked with elite rim protectors such as Roy Hibbert in Indiana and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles. That background makes him a natural fit for a Warriors team that finished 17th in defensive rating last season and is clearly trying to raise its level on that side of the floor.
In Other News...
Warriors Just Made A Roster Bet That Says Plenty About Their Depth
The Warriors have added another big man to the mix, signing center Graham Ike to a two-year, two-way contract after a solid summer league showing. The move gives Golden State some extra frontcourt insurance while also keeping Ike in the organization with a path to development through both the main roster and Santa Cruz.
Ike earned the opportunity by holding his own in nine summer league games, giving the Warriors a reason to keep looking at him beyond July. For a team always balancing immediate depth with longer-term upside, the deal is a small but telling bet on a player who clearly did enough to stay in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Porzingis Trade Could Look Even Better After Atlantas Next Move
The Warriors February swap of Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga for Kristaps Porzingis already looked like the kind of deal that could reshape both teams, and the aftershocks may not be done yet. Atlanta has been exploring ways to move Hield again, which keeps the trade tree alive and adds another layer to a deal Golden State made with an eye on immediate frontcourt impact.
There have also been discussions with Charlotte involving Dorian Finney-Smith, a sign that the Hawks are at least testing the market on how to rework the return they got. Nothing has been finalized, but the fact that Hield is already part of new trade conversations suggests the Warriors could end up seeing their original haul look even cleaner if Atlanta keeps rearranging the pieces. [Read more 🡒]
James Wiseman Has One Familiar Edge In A Tough Knicks Battle
James Wiseman is back in familiar territory as he battles for a place in the Knicks plans, having signed a training camp deal and now trying to turn that into a real roster spot. For a player still looking to reestablish himself, the setting matters, and so does the voice in the room. Mike Brown, who previously worked with Wiseman during their time together with the Warriors, is now in charge in New York, giving the big man at least one familiar advocate as camp competition begins to sharpen.
Even with that edge, Wisemans path remains crowded and uncertain. The Knicks are expected to have a tight decision with their open roster spots, and Wiseman is part of a group that includes John Konchar, Bruce Brown, Ochai Agbaji and Drew Eubanks. For Golden State followers, it is another reminder that Wisemans next chapter is still being written, with his old coach in his corner but no guarantee that support will be enough to secure an opening-night place. [Read more 🡒]