SAN FRANCISCO – Do not expect to see a whole lot of the superstars during the Warriors’ preseason opener at Chase Center on Sunday.
While the team expects Steph Curry and Draymond Green to suit up, they will only play just enough to barely break a sweat against the Luka Doncic-led Lakers.
“I talked to Steph and Rick (Celebrini) today, and he’s going to play 15 minutes probably, and the same plan will be there for Draymond and Jimmy (Butler), depending on how they’re feeling,” coach Steve Kerr said on Friday afternoon.
He said that Butler “tweaked” his ankle during Thursday’s practice, and while his status for the weekend’s opener is still to be determined, Kerr does not believe the injury is serious.
“There’s nothing major going on there,” Kerr said. “But we’ll be careful.”
Aside from that established trio, newcomers both young and old have impressed thus far during the first four days of training camp.
Rookie second-rounder Will Richard, 22, was shouted out by a couple of veterans as one of the pleasant surprises of the week.
After a strong showing in Summer League, that form has carried over into autumn. The 6-foot-4 guard with a quick shot and an enthusiastic approach to defense has looked comfortable around his more established peers.
“He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, is in the the right place on defense,” Moses Moody said. “You can tell he’s not like a freshman coming out. He’s been on a (NCAA) championship team, and he carries himself like such.”
On the other end of the experience spectrum is 39-year-old center Al Horford, another former Florida Gator. Though he is no longer the springy athlete he was almost two decades ago in Gainesville, Horford remains a lethal outside shooter.
He has made at least 100 3-pointers in each of the last three seasons, and has quickly picked up the Warriors’ complicated offense while adding a new element of spacing to the attack.
“It’s great, because it opens the middle of the floor” Gary Payton II said. “We can get back to doing what we love to do, and give guys like JK (Jonathan Kuminga) a whole bunch of room to get downhill.”
Kerr spotlighted two players who should greatly benefit from Horford’s integration.
Newly re-signed Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s top athlete and most threatening driver, will likely enjoy more space around the rim with Horford pulling an opposing big out of the lane. The other is third-year center Trayce Jackson-Davis, who will no longer be competing with Kevon Looney for minutes as a center who thrives on layups and dunks.
“Now, when you look at our bigs with Al and Quinten Post, those guys are really pick and pop guys, and Trayce is the lone roller, rim runner, finisher and lob catcher,” Kerr said. “I think there’s a clearer path for him (to play), roster-wise.”
The Warriors have one more practice on Saturday before tipping off against the Lakers on Sunday. LeBron James will not play, as he is being held out of the entire preseason.
