Golden State Warriors' 2016-17 NBA Training Camp Roster Rankings

The quest to eradicate a bad taste from an epic 2016 NBA Finals collapse starts at training camp.

Never mind that the Golden State Warriors are back-to-back Western Conference champions and the league's winningest franchise over the past three seasons. Their pecking order is far from set after an offseason of player moves both minor and major.

Kevin Durant's arrival brings change at the top, as the Dubs now employ four prime All-Stars and two of the planet's best three players. Yet, with five playoff rotation members gone from last season's roster, Golden State must reshape the frontcourt and reserve unit.

The Warriors enter camp with 14 guaranteed contracts and five other roster hopefuls. Those 19 players are ranked here, first on their likelihood of securing a roster or rotation spot. For those who have already locked both up, they're ranked based on talent and importance to this franchise.

The Long Shots

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19. Elgin Cook

Undrafted out of Oregon, Elgin Cook looks like a Warriors wing. He's a sturdy 6'6" and 210 pounds, boasting the length, athleticism and intensity needed to cycle through assignments in Golden State's switch-happy defense.

But the 23-year-old has the offensive game of a defensive specialist. He's not a shooting threat—career 29.2 percent outside at Oregon—or a capable creator off the bounce. Outside of some explosive athletic feats, he'll struggle to stand out among his temporary peers.

18. Cameron Jones

If the Warriors were a radio show, Cameron Jones would be called a "friend of the program." The 27-year-old is familiar with the franchise, though he's never been a full-fledged member. He has suited up for the Warriors in summer league and has spent two seasons with their NBA Development League affiliate.

He's a 6'4" scoring guard with a fiery three-point stroke. During his last D-League campaign in 2013-14—he was overseas the past two seasons—he averaged 19.4 points and shot 39.9 percent from distance. But his game doesn't look versatile enough to secure a big-league roster spot.

17. Phil Pressey

The first NBA veteran on the list, 5'11" playmaker Phil Pressey is looking to reverse his career trajectory. After making 75 appearances for the Boston Celtics as a rookie in 2013-14, he's played just 73 NBA games over the past two seasons with the Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns.

Quickness may be Pressey's only top-level physical tool, and he's had major issues with his own offense at the NBA level (career 34.1 percent shooter, 25.4 percent from deep). But he's a clever passer—albeit more of a risk-taker than coaches would like—and he could benefit from the fact the roster has only two true floor generals: Stephen Curry and Shaun Livingston.

16. Elliot Williams

Elliot Williams is out to prove he's not a what-could-have-been tragedy. The 22nd pick out of Memphis in 2010, Williams missed all but 24 games of his first three NBA seasons to myriad maladies. He's bounced between the NBA and D-League since, struggling to find the right fit and opportunity.

His D-League run has been incredible: a title and Finals MVP with the Santa Cruz Warriors in 2015 and superstar per-game marks of 28.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists last season. But his Association credentials are pedestrian: 4.9 career points per game on 42.1 percent shooting (31.0 outside).

He's an explosive athlete and crafty finisher, but he may not have the range to survive as an NBA combo guard.

The Benchwarmers

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15. Anderson Varejao

The Warriors saw something they liked in Anderson Varejao last season and brought him back for another year. Large segments of the hoops world still can't figure out what that something is, though.

The 12-year veteran has long drawn high marks as a teammate, but his on-court contributions have almost vanished since a Dec. 2014 Achilles tear. He can hustle his way into rebounds, but he shot a career-worst 42.7 percent last season. The Dubs were also 19.6 points better per 100 possessions when he didn't play. He won't lose his roster spot, but higher-potential prospects should jump ahead of him on the depth chart.

14. JaVale McGee 

JaVale McGee isn't just a first-ballot Shaqtin' a Fool Hall of Famer. He's also an absurdly athletic 7-footer who occasionally puts his physical tools to good use. He hasn't held a permanent rotation role since 2012-13, but he was effective in limited action for the Dallas Mavericks last season, averaging 16.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes.

His make-good deal with the Dubs should demand the best focus he can give. If he stays in his lane as a shot-blocker and pick-and-roll screener, he could effectively fill a complementary role. And Warriors head coach Steve Kerr plans to give McGee an opportunity to do that.

"I think this is a really good opportunity for him, because he's playing with a talented group of players and a really good environment...in which there's nobody like him on the roster," Kerr told reporters. "I think he's got a chance and we'll give him every opportunity to play."

13. Damian Jones

Damian Jones isn't a carbon copy of former Warriors center Festus Ezeli, but the similarities are there—athletic bigs out of Vanderbilt, Golden State draft picks, loaded with potential. Unfortunately, Jones' tenure in the Bay will start the same way Ezeli's often went—on the injury report. Jones is recovering from a torn right pectoral muscle and won't be ready for the start of his rookie year.

As a result, the freshman could get lost in the frontcourt shuffle this season, but he should be worth the wait. He has a more developed offensive game than Ezeli, including an improving mid-range jumper that could give Golden State another element of spacing. Jones may not have played even if he was healthy, but he's a valuable puzzle piece, and his development will be prioritized as such.

12. Patrick McCaw

The second of two draft pulls by the Dubs, Patrick McCaw arrives with a solid chance of making an immediate impact. At 6'7", 180 pounds, he fits the physical profile of the Warriors' interchangeable wings on defense, and he has plug-and-play offensive potential as a willing passer and capable shooter.

McCaw should make his mark first on defense, where he combines the hand speed of an illusionist with advanced instincts. If he can shoot like he did in summer league (46.7 percent, 38.2 from three), he could garner fifth guard minutes. But for now, that spot seems more likely to go to three-year veteran Ian Clark.

11. James Michael McAdoo

James Michael McAdoo played meaningful minutes during the 2016 NBA Finals, and now he could fill a benchwarming role? Only in America...on a team that won 73 games last season, had injury and suspension issues in that series, added frontcourt pieces in free agency and has Kevon Looney ready for training camp.

The argument for playing McAdoo starts and stops with his defensive versatility. Standing 6'9" with a 7'2" wingspan, he can play power forward or small-ball center while possessing the quickness needed to check perimeter players. The argument against involves the rest of McAdoo's game, as he's yet to prove to be an effective rebounder, shooter or passer.

10. Ian Clark

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Ian Clark shouldn't get his hopes up for major minutes during his second season in the Bay. Such is life as a member of a backcourt rotation that features Curry, Livingston, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala.

But Clark, who split his first two campaigns between the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets, had no established relationship with the Warriors last season and still posted personal bests in points (3.6), assists (1.0), rebounds (1.0), minutes (8.8) and player efficiency rating (11.5). He wasn't quite a full-fledged rotation member, but he made 66 regular-season appearances and played 16 playoff games.

With Leandro Barbosa and Brandon Rush both gone, Clark can cast a wider shadow. He's too good a shooter to be left unattended (35.7 percent from three), and he hinted at the possibility of being more than a spot-up specialist (14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per 36 minutes). But the degree of expansion in his skill set will determine how much he'll see the floor.

"To warrant more minutes this season, Clark might have to do more than hit the open shot," Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote. "He looked uncomfortable last season when asked to initiate the offense. Though he is a willing defender, Clark struggles to keep pace with the league's more athletic guards."

9. Kevon Looney

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Kevon Looney's rookie run opened and closed with hip surgeries—on the right one in August and the left in April. Between the procedures, he played 12 D-League contests and five NBA outings.

The 20-year-old is as mysterious as any of Golden State's potential rotation players. His good can be great in the modern game, since he's a malleable 6'9" forward with interior length and perimeter handles. But his defensive motor has mostly sputtered to this point, and he shot under 40 percent against D-League defenders.

Assuming Looney is healthy, this should be the season when his identity begins to materialize. Even facing championship-or-bust expectations, the Dubs should invest in his development. His ceiling is higher than McAdoo's, and the frontcourt isn't deep enough to justify burying Looney.

He has walking-mismatch potential, since few players have a sweeping 7'3.5" wingspan and reliable three-point range. Yet, Looney could be one of the exceptions. He'll need to earn whatever minutes he can get, but he has the talent to snag a second-team forward spot.

8. David West

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Year 2 of David West's ring-chasing pursuit brings the 36-year-old New Jersey native out to the West Coast. His first try—which featured an eight-figure pay cut—took him to the San Antonio Spurs, where he meshed as a complementary reserve. His counting categories took major hits, but he shot a career-best 54.5 percent from the field and dished 3.7 assists per 36 minutes.

It won't take long for West to settle into his new digs. His vision and selflessness will keep the Warriors' offensive gears in motion, and he's still a bail-out option on the block when things break down (94th percentile post-up scorer last season). He's rich in both toughness and veteran know-how, making him a steady presence at both ends of the floor.

But his role will more closely reflect his minimum salary than an All-Star past. He's a useful piece but also past his prime and unlikely to see more than 20 minutes per night. He has a throwback game at power forward—he won't stretch outside the arc at either end—and he could see a lot of his minutes at center.

West's playing time will come down to how often Kerr calls upon his death squads. If the Dubs are five-out running and gunning, West will watch from the sideline. But when Golden State needs more bulk—or Kerr wants to limit the wear and tear of his leaner bigs—West should be the first power player off the pine.

7. Shaun Livingston

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Shaun Livingston's ranking speaks to Golden State's embarrassment-of-riches depth. He received some Sixth Man of the Year votes last season and isn't even the sixth player listed here.

The 6'7" guard has mastered the art of staying in his lane. He's not an outside shooter and doesn't pretend he is. Instead, he maximizes his physical tools at both ends—posting smaller guards on offense and smothering them on defense. He's been a 51.7 percent shooter since joining the Warriors in 2014-15 and ranked seventh last season among qualified distributors with a ratio of 3.04 assists to one turnover.

Take Livingston off the Warriors, and they lose some small-ball magic. As CBSSports.com's Matt Moore observed, the former No. 4 pick is an indispensable puzzle piece—and an economic one at that:

"

Livingston being able to come in and provide a complete change of pace from Steph Curry as well as fit in with starters when Curry rests is huge for their success. His length and defense helps anchor the second unit, and at $5.7 million, he's playing for essentially the mid-level exception next year in a time when backup point guards are going for almost twice as much on the market.

"

Most teams wouldn't have the depth to keep Livingston out of their top five. But most teams aren't coming off the most successful regular season in NBA history.

6. Zaza Pachulia

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Durant was the Warriors' you've-gotta-be-kidding addition this summer, but Zaza Pachulia's bargain deal added fuel to this-isn't-fair fire.

To be clear, the 32-year-old is a step down from former anchor Andrew Bogut. Pachulia doesn't have Bogut's defense or distributing, both of which were major assets for Golden State. But Pachulia flourishes in a low-maintenance, garbage-man role. He ranked 23rd last season with 26 double-doubles. And unlike his predecessor, this career 74.6-percent foul shooter is no liability at the line.

Traditional centers don't seem to be all that valuable for this system. But with Bogut and Festus Ezeli gone, the Warriors need a reliable presence in the middle.

"You have to have a good solid center in this league and we didn't have one," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said, per Anthony Slater of the Bay Area News Group. "We had some guys who could play that role, but a consistent, starting bit man is tough to find. ... He [Pachulia] is a guy who knows how to play, fits our style well."

5. Andre Iguodala

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Andre Iguodala has played only three of his first 12 NBA seasons with the Warriors, but the fit is so perfect that he feels like a Bay Area lifer.

The Dubs don't force anything from him on offense, instead plugging him into supportive roles that make full use of his versatility. He's most comfortable with the ball when creating for others, which this pass-happy system encourages. And since so many reliable scorers surround him, the quality of his shots has exploded, and his accuracy rates have followed suit.

The spotlight finds Iguodala on defense—for those who notice. He's a strong, athletic, cerebral presence whose resume should include more than two All-Defensive selections. But Iguodala's place on the pecking order makes him overlooked by the casual observer.

"He's always kind of our unsung hero," Kerr said, per Janie McCauley of the Associated Press. "He never has the numbers that jump out at you in the box score, so people don't write about him or show him much on the highlights. But he's a phenomenal defensive player and he's an incredibly intelligent player."

4. Klay Thompson

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This is officially the absurd portion of the rankings. Four players are left on the board, and no matter where you land, you'll hit an All-Star and top-20 player.

Klay Thompson is the most overqualified No. 3 scorer in the business. He owns the most prolific quarter in NBA history; however, he's content to play an off-ball support role and fire from three with surgical precision. He's never shot below 40 percent from distance, and he sits second in made triples and fifth in three-point percentage (min. 500 makes) since entering the league in 2011.

His marksmanship is special to the point that he might hold this spot even if he was only a long-range specialist. But his off-the-dribble attacks and inside-the-arc finishes have both grown exponentially over his short career. Defensively, he can play any perimeter position, and his ability to stay in front of speedy point guards keeps Curry fresh for the offensive end.

Thompson has made the past two All-Star Games; he was the league's 12th-best scorer and an All-NBA third-teamer last season. If he wasn't in Golden State, he could be a franchise face or at least a clear No. 2 on most other teams. But he gets only the fourth spot here—plus tremendous odds to reach the Finals as a consolation prize.

3. Draymond Green

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Draymond Green doesn't play—or even look—like a typical NBA superstar. But the do-it-all forward from Michigan State not only has the argument, but it's an ironclad case.

This isn't about his emotional leadership, though that plays an invaluable role in igniting the Dubs' fire. Inside the lines, his distinct dominance sets the Warriors' plans in motion.

"There is no lineup of death without Draymond's unique set of skills and his versatility is the straw that stirs the drink in Golden State," Jonathan Tjarks wrote for RealGM. "He can run point on offense and play center on defense and guarding a screen set by a point-center who is playing in maximum space is pretty much impossible."

Green paced all players with a raw plus/minus of plus-1,070, the league's highest mark in the past two decades. He produced the Association's first campaign with 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 500 assists, 100 steals, 100 blocks and 100 triples. His 8.97 real plus-minus trailed only the 9.79 tallied by basketball cyborg LeBron James, per ESPN.com.

Green's two-way talents are unmatched. His defensive versatility and playmaking edge him ahead of Thompson, but Green just so happens to play with two future first-ballot Hall of Famers.

2. Stephen Curry

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The 2015-16 season will stand as the year when Stephen Curry solved basketball.

His cheat-code-enabled offense made him the league's first unanimous MVP. He broke his own record with 402 triples—38 less than the Milwaukee Bucks had as a team—on a scorching 45.4 percent. He became the first scoring champ to shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent outside and 90 percent at the line. His 31.5 PER was the highest recorded by a player other than James, Michael Jordan or Wilt Chamberlain.

With Curry sitting on consecutive MVP awards, it might be tough to fathom him occupying anything other than the No. 1 spot—especially when he doesn't anticipate needing to give up anything to accommodate Durant, as Curry told ESPN.com's Darren Rovell:

"

It won't change at all. That's the reason KD joined—knowing we weren't going to sacrifice anything, that we all have to be ourselves to make things work. There will be some adjustments when it comes to the in-game flow and how we work together, but for us to be who we're supposed to be, we all have to kind of elevate ourselves.

"

Yet, the same elevation propels Durant past his MVP teammate. Durant has never had this level of support or an offensive system this efficient. And yet, he owns the third-highest scoring average in NBA history and four consecutive seasons of 50-plus-percent shooting.

Curry's sniping can dismantle a defense, but Durant can dominate both ends as a near-7-footer with suffocating length and every scoring skill imaginable.

1. Kevin Durant

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Kevin Durant played 27 games and underwent three foot surgeries in 2014-15. No, this isn't news, but chances are KD's 2015-16 campaign made you forget all about those medical woes.

He roared back like he never left, becoming only the fifth player to average at least 28 points on 50 percent shooting, eight rebounds and five assists. He was at least an 85th-percentile scorer in transition, isolation, handling pick-and-rolls, post-ups, spot-ups, dribble handoffs and off-ball cuts. He also held opponents 6.3 points below their field-goal averages, the third-best mark among high-volume defenders.

That final number gives him the slightest edge over Curry. Both are unguardable scorers when in the zone, and each raises his teammates by having a strong gravitational pull on defenders. But Durant's physical tools—like his hawkish 7'4" wingspan—are weapons that aren't in Curry's arsenal.

"Durant's size and two-way positional versatility give him an edge over Curry in the 'vacuum' test," Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated wrote. "If starting a team from scratch, it would seemingly be easier to use Durant as the cornerstone because he covers more bases and brings more flexibility to the table."

There is no loser between Curry and Durant—just more irrefutable evidence that the Warriors were by far the summer's biggest winners.

Unless noted otherwise, statistics used courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com.

Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ZachBuckleyNBA.