Warriors Prioritize Talent Over Health, Eyeing Ben Simmons After 108 Games in 5 Seasons
Updated
Updated · Blue Man Hoop · Aug 12
Warriors Prioritize Talent Over Health, Eyeing Ben Simmons After 108 Games in 5 Seasons
3 articles · Updated · Blue Man Hoop · Aug 12
Summary
Mike Dunleavy Jr. said Golden State deliberately chose talent over availability in building its roster, signaling openness to another injury-risk bet as Ben Simmons pursues an NBA return.
108 games over the past five seasons underline the gamble on Simmons, whose back injuries derailed his career and left him out of the league last season despite his size, defense and ball-handling appeal.
Golden State has already leaned into that approach by bringing back Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, who combined for 77 games last season, and re-signing De'Anthony Melton for two years and $12.4 million.
A minimum deal for the 30-year-old former No. 1 pick would fit a Warriors team in a middle ground—neither fully rebuilding nor viewed as a true title contender—while testing whether Simmons can still fill a 20-minute rotation role.