The Warriors didn’t spend the offseason making a splash, but Charles Bassey may end up being one of the more interesting additions anyway.
Golden State’s only new face from outside last year’s roster is 11th overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg, and the rest of the business has mostly been about bringing people back. Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, De'Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II and Bassey all re-upped, giving the Warriors a familiar group with a few roles still up for grabs.
Bassey’s situation stands out because of how quickly it could change. He signed a one-year deal worth up to $2.85 million and is set to work as Golden State’s third center behind Horford and Porzingis.
That sounds straightforward enough on paper. In practice, it could turn into something much bigger.
If Horford and Porzingis both stay close to the expected 60 games apiece, Bassey still has a real lane to minutes. The Warriors will have to manage both veterans carefully, and there’s a strong chance they’ll be used to split back-to-backs.
That alone could put Bassey in line for a backup center job in roughly 15 to 25 games. If either veteran misses extended time, his workload would jump in a hurry.
That’s where his value shows up. Bassey brings rebounding and interior physicality, the kind of traits that can stabilize a bench unit when the game gets messy. He also already gave Golden State a useful burst last season, appearing in five games and averaging 10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and one assist off the bench.
He’s not a finished product, and the source material makes that plain. His offensive game is limited, and big men who can rebound and hold ground inside are not exactly rare around the league. But this offseason has made that skill set more valuable for the Warriors than it might be elsewhere, especially after Quinten Post’s departure in restricted free agency.
Bassey’s opportunity goes beyond Golden State, too. He’s been with six different organizations in five years, including four last season, and only $1.4 million of his current deal is guaranteed. This is a prove-it year, not just for a spot in the Warriors’ rotation but for his place in the NBA picture as a whole.
That’s why his development is worth watching. For a team that hasn’t made many headlines this summer, Bassey could become one of the more compelling stories on the roster.
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There may also be a fresh opportunity to add more youth to the mix. A five-team trade involving the Washington Wizards has put Cam Whitmore and Julian Reese into the conversation as possible camp candidates, and both would fit the kind of low-risk, upside swing the Warriors have shown interest in before. For a team trying to balance immediate needs with long-term flexibility, those open roster spots could wind up being more competitive than they looked a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]