Golden State Warriors: Two Options At Backup Point Guard

One area in question for the Golden State Warriors next season is the backup point guard position.

The hole in the backup position opened when Jarrett Jack opted to leave Golden State for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Given that he was a key player for the team and averaged 17.1 points per game in the playoffs, time will only tell how the team manages this season with a new sixth man.

Though Stephen Curry is expected to develop his game a step further and play more minutes as well, there needs to be another solid option to play the ball-handler role. The Warriors found two potential backup options to meet those needs.

The Warriors made their first step to fill that hole in the NBA Draft by acquiring guard Nemanja Nedovic. After being originally drafted and traded from the Phoenix Suns with the 30th pick on draft night, the Serbian guard signed with Golden State shortly after.

Aspects which Nedovic is often highlighted are his high-level athleticism, ability to get to the rim and his play-making abilities. Many scouts noted him as one of the most athletic European guards of this year’s draft and also saw his shooting percentages last season noticeably increase from the season before, going from 27 percent to 34 percent from 3-point range.

However, Nedovic still has a long way to go to show consistent shooting and prove his worth as Curry’s backup. Thirty-four percent in the Euroleague can signal a tough transition to the NBA, especially considering the 3-point line is further in the NBA than in Europe. His defense also gets criticism, though an extremely athletic player, which puts his effort into question.

Midway through July, the team signed its second option in Toney Douglas. Spending last season with the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets, Douglas averaged 7.5 points and 2.1 assists in 18.1 minutes per game.

Just like new acquisition Andre Iguodala, Douglas gained his reputation in the league for his toughness and effort on the defensive end. He also averaged 38 percent from beyond the arc, making his case as a “3-and-D” player that is an increasing trend in the league.

Douglas’ issues are firstly centered on not being a true point guard. He doesn’t the playmaking abilities one would expect from an NBA point guard, yet would be an undersized shooting guard at 6’2″. The lack in his ability to create for himself and slash to the basket also causes concern.

The Warriors seem to have two decent options who are deserving of a chance, one young athletic player and a hard-working defensive veteran. Whichever way the team chooses to go, they will most likely find themselves with relatively equal or greater success than last season.

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