Predicting Golden State Warriors' Final 15-Man 2016-17 Roster
The Golden State Warriors' rapid rise to relevancy conjures a number of images, everything from elite talents and larger-than-life personalities to revolutionary perimeter shooting, precision passing and swarming, plus switching defense that has come to define the Dubs under head coach Steve Kerr.
But Kerr has kept three words at the forefront of this franchise—strength in numbers. The Warriors used 14 different players during the 2016 NBA Finals. They trotted out 13 in the 2015 championship round. The coach's mantra isn't just a catchy marketing slogan; it's become a way of life.
And yes, that's still the case even with Kevin Durant making the Dubs appear as top-heavy as a newborn. Golden State's stars won't play all 48 minutes, and none are immune to injury.
The Warriors need depth, and they'll have to find it without several key contributors from their recent Finals runs. The first step is settling on a 15-man roster, which Golden State has already begun. The Dubs broke camp with 20 players, but they've since trimmed down to 18—14 of whom hold guaranteed contracts.
The following slides break down the 18 names still in the mix, while predicting which 15 make the final cut and what roles they will fill.
Point Guard
1 of 5
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Experience |
| Stephen Curry | 28 | 6'3" | 190 lbs | 7 |
| Cameron Jones | 27 | 6'4" | 185 lbs | R |
| Shaun Livingston | 31 | 6'7" | 182 lbs | 11 |
| Phil Pressey | 25 | 5'11" | 175 lbs | 3 |
It feels like a lifetime ago that Stephen Curry was going unnoticed by college recruiters and battling balky ankles that threatened to prematurely halt his NBA career. He's since blossomed into the league's greatest shooter and first-ever unanimous MVP.
His stranglehold on the starting point guard gig is strong enough to choke out the world's best mixed martial artists.
Shaun Livingston is similarly cemented in a reserve role. His prolific post-up game—87th percentile last season—seems a peculiar asset for a pace-and-space attack, but Golden State has wisely utilized its 6'7" walking mismatch. His cerebral, selfless approach mirrors the organization's makeup, and his defensive versatility is an invaluable weapon in this switch-happy scheme.
"In our locker room, everybody knows how important he is to what we do," Curry said in April, per Bay Area News Group's Carl Steward. "The last two years, the impact he's made shoring up that second lineup...He was huge, just a veteran presence who doesn't make mistakes and usually impacts the game in a positive way."
Provided the top two point men stay healthy, the Warriors have two uber-reliable floor generals to handle their offense. Couple that with the playmaking they possess at other positions, and there's enough to enter the campaign with only two lead guards on the depth chart.
If Golden State went with a third, three-year veteran Phil Pressey had the inside track as a crafty creator and feisty defender. But through three preseason games, the 5'11" guard's shooting struggles are prevalent as ever (30.8 percent from the field, 0-of-5 outside). Cameron Jones is billed as a shooting specialist, but he's hit just 28.6 percent in preseason play while tallying one assist against four turnovers.
In: Stephen Curry, Shaun Livingston
Out: Cameron Jones, Phil Pressey
Shooting Guard
2 of 5
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Experience |
| Ian Clark | 25 | 6'3" | 175 lbs | 3 |
| Patrick McCaw | 20 | 6'7" | 185 lbs | R |
| Klay Thompson | 26 | 6'7" | 205 lbs | 5 |
| Elliot Williams | 27 | 6'5" | 190 lbs | 4 |
Whether Klay Thompson is the NBA's best shooting guard or not is up for debate. The fact he's in the conversation, however, highlights the ease with which he sits atop the depth chart here.
His 6'7", 205-pound frame was built to ideal basketball specs. His shooting form is even more pure than his Splash sibling's, and Thompson's next season with a sub-40 three-point percentage will be his first. His off-the-dribble arsenal has experienced exponential growth over his first five campaigns. His ability to cycle through perimeter defensive matchups helped him garner 16 All-Defensive first-team votes in 2015-16.
"Thompson's talent is irreplaceable," Michael Pina wrote for RealGM. "Nobody on Earth is a better shooter, short of his own teammate. But he can also guard multiple positions and rebound. And, best of all, he's still improving."
However, the battle to back up Thompson promises to be fierce.
Ian Clark looked like the clubhouse leader as a three-year veteran and returning member of the Dubs. But rookie second-rounder Patrick McCaw has made a compelling argument for the spot. The UNLV product brings size, shooting, defense and distributing, a potentially more complete package.
It's possible the Warriors ease McCaw into this transition by focusing his early run in the NBA Development League. But he's averaging the fifth-most minutes in the preseason—over three per game more than Clark—and looks ready for more.
It should be noted, though, that if Golden State only takes two point guards into the regular season, both McCaw and Clark could be in the rotation.
Elliot Williams' time with the Warriors has continued his unfortunate career path. A first-round pick in 2010, he's had trouble finding his footing amid a plethora of injuries and has yet to see preseason action due to a late-summer knee scope. He's a dynamic scorer when healthy, but he's failed to latch on to rosters that weren't nearly this talented. If he's a Warrior this season, it will be of the Santa Cruz variety.
In: Ian Clark, Patrick McCaw, Klay Thompson
Out: Elliot Williams
Small Forward
3 of 5
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Experience |
| Kevin Durant | 28 | 6'9" | 240 lbs | 9 |
| Andre Iguodala | 32 | 6'6" | 207 lbs | 12 |
The image of Kevin Durant in a Warriors jersey remains striking. But there was another reason he didn't look like himself during his preseason debut.
"Tight rims," he told reporters after a nine-point, 2-of-9 shooting start to his Golden State career.
KD has since returned to scoring-savant mode. Over his past two outings, he's had almost as many points (46) as minutes (50), while hitting an absurd 66.7 percent from the field and 7-of-10 downtown. His length will prove particularly valuable on this defense, and a more defined offensive system should yield more efficiency to the league's No. 8 player in career player efficiency rating (25.04).
Andre Iguodala would start for 29 other teams, and even as a reserve he holds a spot on Golden State's most important lineup. But he opens games on the bench to lessen his minutes total, provide playmaking off the pine and save the center spot for a traditional big built for the interior wear-and-tear.
Iggy embodies the Dubs' sense of team. He's usually all guts, minimal glory—though, his trophy case does feature a Finals MVP—and his per-game statistics sit several levels beneath his capability. But his sacrifices are trend-setters in the locker room, and his perimeter defense ranks near the top of Golden State's most pivotal pieces.
Training camp invitees Elgin Cook and Scott Wood were the Warriors' first roster casualties. Neither was a surprise subtraction, but the two-man depth chart showcases Golden State's ability to deploy its perimeter players at multiple positions.
In: Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala
Out: None
Power Forward
4 of 5
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Experience |
| Draymond Green | 26 | 6'7" | 230 lbs | 4 |
| Kevon Looney | 20 | 6'9" | 220 lbs | 1 |
| James Michael McAdoo | 23 | 6'9" | 230 lbs | 2 |
| David West | 36 | 6'9" | 250 lbs | 13 |
The statistical impact of Draymond Green's 2015-16 presence hadn't been seen in at least 20 years. Hyperbolic as that sounds, one number holds its truth—1,070, as in the amount of points the Dubs outscored opponents with him in the game. There isn't a higher plus/minus in NBA.com's stat database, which dates back to 1996-97.
Golden State indeed played its best with Green (plus-18.9 per 100 possessions), but also its worst without him (minus-7.0). That's right: Green suited up with the first-ever unanimous MVP and posted a wider on/off split. He notched the Association's first season with at least 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 500 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals. Only basketball deity LeBron James topped Green's 8.97 real plus-minus, per ESPN.com.
"He's the most underrated player in the NBA, period," Warriors executive Jerry West said on KNBR in November."...He's just a remarkable player. Watch him handle the ball, watch him make passes, defensively he's everywhere. If he's not a top 10 player in this league, I don't know who is."
Green led the Warriors in minutes last season and should challenge for that crown again. Behind him, David West will get the call as the first big off the bench. The 36-year-old will see time at both frontcourt spots and fit like skinny jeans while doing it. He's another brainy veteran with toughness and a penchant for passing that will help replace Andrew Bogut's distributing.
What the Warriors have beyond Green and West is unclear.
James Michael McAdoo and Kevon Looney both have guaranteed contracts, so they're not in danger of losing their roster spots. But neither is a rotation lock. McAdoo needs a bigger offensive identity than garbage man. Looney needs health first—two hip surgeries last season—then to find whether he's better off as an oversized wing or small-ball big.
McAdoo works as an emergency option and occasional burst of athletic energy when the Dubs are dragging. Looney should have the opportunity to grow into something greater, though perhaps not this season. He has the length and skill set of an interchangeable forward who can create for others, shoot outside, pound the boards and guard multiple positions.
In: Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, James Michael McAdoo, David West
Out: None
Center
5 of 5
| Player | Age | Height | Weight | Experience |
| Damian Jones | 21 | 7'0" | 245 lbs | R |
| JaVale McGee | 28 | 7'0" | 270 lbs | 8 |
| Zaza Pachulia | 32 | 6'11" | 270 lbs | 13 |
| Anderson Varejao | 34 | 6'10" | 273 lbs | 12 |
The offseason shift from Bogut to Zaza Pachulia isn't a lateral move. Bogut is an elite rim protector and among the league's best passing centers. Pachulia won't fill either void, but he's a sturdy, low-maintenance veteran who piles up double-doubles. He'll be a steady presence with the starters and, unlike Bogut, Pachulia isn't an intentional foul candidate as a career 74.6 percent free-throw shooter.
The biggest hit to Golden State's depth is the backup center spot, which Festus Ezeli masterfully handled over the past two seasons. It's not a stretch to think JaVale McGee—the only of the four centers without a guaranteed contract—should be Pachulia's primary sub.
McGee's natural tools are abundant and absurd: He's 7'0" with a 7'6" wingspan and enough athleticism to provide one of the greatest silver medal efforts in the Slam Dunk Contest ever. He has always produced when he's played—career 15.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per 36 minutes—and he's doing the same this preseason, averaging 15.3 rebounds, 12.9 points and 4.7 blocks per 36.
"Talk to some different people, GMs, front office people. He's so much better than a lot of these guys who got paid this past year," Iguodala said of McGee, per ESPN.com's Ethan Sherwood Strauss. "Like, so much better."
However, McGee has a history of well-chronicled, unsightly mental mistakes. But if anyone will value his rewards more than his risks, it's a team that constantly toes the line between loose and reckless. He's an above-the-rim 5, a description that's never been tagged to Pachulia and Anderson Varejao. Rookie Damian Jones is a freak athlete, but he's still recovering from a torn pectoral muscle.
If Varejao wasn't holding a guaranteed pact, his roster spot would be in jeopardy. But the 34-year-old will be on the team, even if he's rarely a part of Kerr's rotation. McGee should have Pachulia's back to start the season, but Jones could steal the understudy role before the campaign closes.
In: Damian Jones, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, Anderson Varejao
Out: None
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com.
Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ZachBuckleyNBA.
