The Golden State Warriors’ decision to move Trayce Jackson-Davis at February’s mid-season deadline is looking better by the week.
What was never going to be remembered as a blockbuster trade has still ended up creating real value for Golden State. Jackson-Davis was sent to the Toronto Raptors for what became the 54th overall pick, and that move helped clear the runway for the Warriors to bring in Charles Bassey on a 10-day contract at the end of the season. Bassey did enough in that short stint to turn it into something more permanent.
His five-game run, which included a pair of double-doubles, convinced Golden State to bring him back on a one-year contract. That matters even more after the franchise lost Quinten Post to the Memphis Grizzlies less than 48 hours before the signing, leaving the center rotation in need of another body.
The bigger picture is hard to miss: without the Jackson-Davis trade, the Warriors may not have had the roster spot or the role available for Bassey in the first place. Jackson-Davis, now in Toronto, has already had the fourth and final year of his contract guaranteed, but he didn’t exactly force Golden State to second-guess the deal. He averaged just five minutes across 17 appearances to close out the regular season, and now enters what could be a crucial year trying to fight his way into the main rotation.
And if Golden State is simply looking for the better backup center option right now, Bassey has the edge. He’s younger, bigger and, in this context, arguably more skilled.
That doesn’t guarantee a long stay with the Warriors or a long run in the league as he enters his sixth season, but the fit is obvious enough. Golden State has age and injury concerns around Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, and Bassey’s physical tools give him a real chance to matter.
The trade also delivered another piece in Lejae Jones, the 22-year-old who was taken with the 54th pick. Jones struggled at the California Classic, but he’s been better in Las Vegas, where he has averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds on 63.6% shooting from the floor in less than 15 minutes per game over two games.
In Other News...
Warriors Just Made A Major Addition To Steve Kerrs Bench
The Warriors have added a familiar and highly experienced voice to Steve Kerrs bench, bringing in a coach whose rsum stretches across multiple NBA stops and roles. Frank Vogel has been around winning programs for years, with head-coaching experience in Indiana, Orlando, Los Angeles and Phoenix, along with assistant work in Boston, Philadelphia and Dallas.
For Golden State, the appeal is obvious: a veteran who has managed different roster types and pressure points, and who has already guided the Lakers to a championship in the 2019-20 season. It is the kind of hire that can deepen a staff in a hurry, even if the full impact will only become clear once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Made A Behind The Scenes Move LeBron Fans Will Notice
The Warriors have added a familiar championship voice to Steve Kerrs staff, bringing in Frank Vogel as associate head coach, according to ESPNs Shams Charania. For Golden State, it is the kind of behind-the-scenes move that can matter well beyond the practice floor, especially with the roster and its star power always under the microscope.
Vogels most notable recent stop came with the Lakers, where he coached LeBron James and helped deliver a title, so the hire is bound to catch the attention of anyone tracking the long-running LeBron-to-Golden State chatter. Warriors players have already been openly involved in recruiting James, and while no signing has happened, the addition of Vogel gives the franchise another layer of familiarity around a storyline that refuses to go away. [Read more 🡒]
Udonis Haslem Got Pulled Into Another Heat Culture Firestorm
A social media dispute involving former Heat teammates Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo has a way of spilling beyond South Florida, and this one quickly drew in a familiar voice from the Warriors side. The flare-up started with direct messages between Herro and a fan, then widened into a back-and-forth that got plenty of attention once Draymond Green weighed in on it.
Greens comments brought Udonis Haslem into the conversation, with the former Heat captain once again positioned as the defender of Miamis standard and identity. Haslem answered on social media and stood up for Heat culture, keeping the issue alive even as the original exchange remained the kind of online dust-up that can linger long after the posts themselves. [Read more 🡒]