The Golden State Warriors already have 15 players on their player roster with guaranteed contracts, meaning they need to make layoffs or trades every time they want to make changes to the roster. The problem is that every player on the big roster seems to have a meaning to exist, and the Warriors don't seem to have a reason to force a change.
But the problem of the tight rotation of the inner line is very conspicuous. Dream Green still needs to undergo an injury assessment next week to determine when he can return because of a back injury; "Big Smart" Wiseman has not played even one game this season. As the trading deadline approaches, will they choose to strengthen the fifth position through trading? From a motivational point of view, this seems reasonable.
But from an expert's perspective, the answer is no. The Athletic's reporter Anthony Slater reported that "Dream Green is hanging up his free card because of a frustrating back injury, and his comeback schedule is very vague and will most likely not return until after All-Star Weekend." Is it time for the Warriors to trade to seek reinforcement for the center position? No, the sources insist that the Warriors' management has no intention of getting the Fifth to quickly increase its combat power through a trade. ”
Sources told Slater that the key to making the Warriors make this judgment is Kevin Rooney, who has been playing for the Warriors for seven seasons , who has rebounded in double figures in six of his last nine games. The veteran, who has played for the Warriors since his debut at the age of 19, has become more sophisticated. Rooney has played in Steve Kerr's system since the 2015-16 season and is familiar with every aspect of the championship coach's tactics. Maybe he's not the typical under-basket beast who can rampage through a three-second zone and finish strongly. But similar to Drummond Green, Kevin Rooney's enthusiasm and high-quality defense on the defensive end are what the Warriors rely on right now.
Given the Warriors' tactical nature of relying heavily on passing and outside offense, it's very difficult for any player expected to be able to quickly integrate into the team and play under Kerr's tactical system — not to mention the center players who need to play the pivot of the defensive system on the defensive end. Once an insider who is not familiar with passing is forcibly inserted into the lineup, it will affect the smooth coordination of other Warriors players and affect the chemistry of the whole team.
So, it's only natural that the Warriors chose not to trade to reinforce the fifth position. Steve Kerr's adjustment to the current dilemma of Dream Green and James Wiseman not being able to play is also in place: he chose to let Kevin Rooney carry the flag of the last gate on the defensive end, and Rooney has played an increasingly important role in recent games. On the offensive end, well-sized wing players like Bjlitsa and Otto Porter share a portion of the offensive tasks on the inside, using their projection abilities to improve the Warriors' offensive space on the court.
Despite Curry's ups and downs, the Warriors' recent record is far less glamorous than before. But as Kevin Rooney, Bjelica and Otto Potter got better, their latest situation stabilized. So, instead of pinning on a trade with a certain run-in risk, the focus is on getting injured players back on the court as soon as possible, and letting Clay, Green and Wiseman get back to the rhythm of the game as soon as possible. After all, the strength of the healthy warriors of the whole team cannot be underestimated, and they are expected to recreate the glory of the dynasty.