The Warriors’ next training camp battle may not stop at one familiar name. Golden State is already expected to bring in former Philadelphia 76ers wing Dalen Terry on a training camp deal, and the opening created by that move could invite a few more candidates into the mix for the final roster spots.
Two of those possibilities surfaced Wednesday when the Washington Wizards moved on from Cam Whitmore and Julian Reese as part of the five-team Peyton Watson sign-and-trade that sent Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The same deal also sent Max Strus to the L.A. Clippers, while Washington picked up Tre Mann and a 2027 second-round pick.
Whitmore and Reese are now on the move again in the aftermath. Reese has already been waived by the Denver Nuggets, and Whitmore is expected to be quickly moved on by the Cavaliers as well.
That makes both players plausible low-risk targets for Golden State, especially because each remains eligible for a two-way contract. Whitmore is entering his fourth season, while Reese is entering his second. The Warriors currently have one two-way slot open, with LJ Cryer and Malevy Leons already in place.
Whitmore is the more obvious name. A year ago, plenty of Warriors fans were hoping he might slide to Golden State after he unexpectedly fell out of the top 10 in the 2023 draft.
Instead, the Warriors took Brandin Podziemski at No. 19, and the Houston Rockets grabbed Whitmore at No. 20.
His production so far has been solid, if not the kind that matches the raw hype. Across his three seasons in Houston and Washington, Whitmore has averaged 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game while shooting 45% from the field and 34.9% from 3-point range.
Reese, meanwhile, got a longer look late last season on a Wizards team in full tank mode. In 13 games, he posted 11.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 52.9% from the floor.
Golden State appears willing to use this stretch of the offseason to see what sticks. The organization seems comfortable treating next season as a bridge year before aiming at meaningful cap space next summer, and that gives them room to gamble on young players who might be worth developing.
That approach is already showing up with Terry, and it would not be a surprise if the Warriors keep scanning the market for more names before camp opens in just over a month. Golden State still has two standard roster spots to fill, and the team has been connected to both veteran and younger options in recent weeks. The front office has also made clear it plans to carry a full roster into opening night rather than leaving a spot open to save on tax costs.
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George Karl added another layer by questioning whether Denver is the kind of organization that can fully support a player of Jokics stature over the long haul. For Warriors fans, that matters because the next offseason keeps coming into view as a possible inflection point, with talk of Jokic eventually reaching free agency and the notion of him in Golden State no longer sounding quite as far-fetched as it once did. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Raised The Stakes With Gui Santos
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That matters because Santos showed enough down the stretch last season to get the Warriors attention, and now the challenge is translating that momentum into a larger role in a crowded roster. Golden State has veteran experience and fresh additions in the mix, but Santos decision to stay put suggests the team sees a path for him to be more than a fringe contributor if he keeps building on what he flashed before. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompsons Next Move Says Everything About Where Warriors Stand
Klay Thompsons next stop is moving quickly into focus after his split with Dallas, and it says plenty about how he views this stage of his career. After reaching a buyout agreement with the Mavericks, Thompson made clear he wanted a contender, and Miami has been waiting as a landing spot that can use his perimeter scoring around its star core.
For Warriors fans, the more telling part is what this chase does not appear to be about. Golden State is not in the mix here, and the direction of Thompsons market underscores how far the veteran guard has drifted from any easy reunion talk. The Heats interest is rooted in adding shooting and experience to a team built around elite talent, while the Warriors are left watching a familiar face move toward a new contender with his decision already taking shape. [Read more 🡒]