The Golden State Warriors are looking to make a deep run in the NBA Finals this season. Behind their tried-and-tested core Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the Warriors are looking to barge back into the Playoffs and make some noise, if not win it all outright.
That, of course, means that every roster spot needs to be selected carefully, down to the 15th man. Golden State is doing just that with regards to their final roster slot. They have reportedly tried out four current and former NBA point guards in an attempt to give Curry, their prized PG, some breathing room.
Let's rank these four players (Isaiah Thomas, Darren Collison, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Quinn Cook) with regards to how well they'd fit with the Warriors.
4. Ryan Arcidiacono
Last NBA appearance: '20 – '21 Bulls (44 games, 3.1 PPG, 1.3 APG, 1.5 RPG)
Ryan Arcidiacono endeared himself to Chicago Bulls fans in his four-year stay there. He's the prototypical glue guy point guard: he plays hard defense, shoot threes, and stabilize an offense. Despite his unimpressive box-score stats, Arcidiacono has proven himself to be an NBA-worthy guy.
The Warriors could certainly put Arcidiacono's skill set to good use. Good defense and good three-point shooting will earn you an NBA contract nowadays. However, in comparison to the three other players he's competing with, Arcidiacono falls flat. The Warriors need a guy who can call his own number and run the offense when Stephen Curry is off the floor, and Arci hasn't proven that he can do the first part.
3. Quinn Cook
Last NBA appearance: '20 – '21 Los Angeles Lakers/Cleveland Cavaliers (20 games, 3.3 PPG, 0.8 APG, 0.7 RPG)
Familiarity with a team's system is widely underrated among fans of the NBA. It takes time for a player on a new team to familiarize himself with how the team runs its offense and its defensive principles.
Quinn Cook is intimately familiar with the Warriors' system: he spent two years with Golden State and even helped them win a championship in 2018. He already has experience backing up Curry. That alone gives him an advantage over the competition. However, when comparing Cook's performance in recent years to the two remaining contenders, he pales significantly.
2. Isaiah Thomas
Last NBA appearance: '19 – '20 Washington Wizards (40 games, 12.2 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.7 RPG)
Isaiah Thomas' comeback bid has drawn the attention of many NBA fans. A lot of people are rooting for the former Celtics star to shine again on an NBA team, and clearly Thomas thinks he deserves to in an NBA roster. He's been working out for different teams this offseason, such as the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers, and of course, the Golden State Warriors.
Thomas still has what it takes to be a good bench scorer in the league. His last significant stint in the NBA, which was for the Washington Wizards in 2019, showcased what Thomas brings to the table: scoring and playmaking. A backup bench gig behind Stephen Curry would be perfect for both IT and the Warriors. Out of the four players mentioned here, Thomas is by far the most skilled scorer, and the Warriors badly need that when Steph is resting on the bench.
1. Darren Collison
Last NBA appearance: '18 – '19 Indiana Pacers (76 games, 11.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, 3.1 RPG)
Darren Collison shouldn't be fighting for a 15th roster slot.
In his last appearance in the NBA, Collison played solidly for the Pacers. He wasn't flashy, he didn't score like Isaiah Thomas did, but he did his job well. He was a floor general that did his job to the T, and he was damn good at his job. Championship teams wanted him on their roster as a sixth-man type, but unfortunately for them, Collison decided to retire, citing his religious beliefs.
Now, Collison is looking for an opportunity to get back into the league. The Warriors are one of the teams he worked out for, and he's by far the best option for them. He can score pretty well if you need him to, but his most valuable asset is his stabilizing presence. When Stephen Curry is out of the game, the Warriors need someone who can score and set the table for the team. Collison provides that for them. His defense is solidly good as well, something Thomas can't really say for himself.
Ultimately, it all comes down to what the Warriors prioritize for that final spot. Do they want a proven scorer with defensive limitations to boost the bench when Curry is resting? Or do they want someone who does a little bit of everything? Whatever happens, Warriors fans should be happy regardless of who they choose.
All statistics taken from basketball-reference.com.
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