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How will the Warriors' stars do in 2016-17?

Here are our player scouting reports and analysis for the Golden State Warriors.

Projected starters

Stephen Curry

Position: Guard

Experience: 7 years

Age: 28

Scouting report

+ Earned NBA's first unanimous MVP with historic offensive season

+ Accurate shooter from virtually any distance off the dribble or the catch

+ Underrated defender limited in the playoffs by aftereffects of sprained MCL

Analysis

Curry enjoyed an unprecedented offensive regular season. By taking his 3-point output from historic to off-the-charts, Curry managed to dramatically increase both his usage (from 28.9 percent of the Warriors' plays to 32.6 percent, the NBA's second-highest mark) and his true shooting percentage (from .638 to .669, tops in the league) -- defying the typical tradeoff between usage and efficiency. Curry's reward for his role in Golden State's 73-9 regular season was becoming the first player in league history to unanimously win MVP.

Come the postseason, however, Curry's luck turned. So did his ankle in the Warriors' playoff opener against the Houston Rockets, and when he came back during Game 4 of the series, Curry slipped on a wet spot and suffered a sprained MCL that kept him out two weeks. In his return, Curry scored a record 17 points in overtime to beat the Portland Trail Blazers, but he wasn't the same player. In particular, his ability to move laterally was compromised, making it difficult for Curry to beat bigger defenders off the dribble. So while he got hot at times, including the deciding Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, Curry wasn't close to his MVP self as Golden State lost the NBA Finals in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers after leading 3-1.

Back healthy after sitting out of the Olympics to rest and rehab, Curry must now battle the effects of regression to the mean. He has overcome them in the past, most notably last season, when he finished fourth in the voting for Most Improved Player the year after winning MVP. Curry's increased use of the 3-point shot has seen to that. After steadily increasing his 3-point attempts from 4.9 per 36 minutes in 2010-11 to 8.9 in 2014-15, Curry jumped all the way to 11.8 last season while making them at a 45.4 percent clip, allowing him to become the first player ever to make 400 3-pointers. Nobody else has even made 300.

Curry's ability to shoot accurately off the dribble from far beyond the 3-point line forces defenses to trap him -- setting up four-on-three opportunities for his teammates -- or overplay him and surrender the drive. As important as Curry's shooting is, so too is his tight ballhandling, which has enabled him to get off the 3 even when defenders are playing up on him.

The MCL injury also affected Curry defensively; he has developed into a quality defender despite what Russell Westbrook might (or might not) think. Curry is an active help defender -- he led the league in steals per game, though not a per-play basis -- who can hold his own when crossmatched, and he also contributes on the defensive glass.

Klay Thompson

Position: Guard

Experience: 5 years

Age: 26

Scouting report

+ Phenomenal outside shooter with perhaps NBA's quickest release

+ Has developed ability to make plays off the dribble

+ Quality one-on-one defender, particularly against smaller foes

Analysis

The gift and the curse for Thompson is that he's perhaps the world's second-best shooter ... but also second in his own backcourt. Last season, Thompson stepped out of his point guard's giant shadow by improving his ability to create his own offense and becoming less dependent on Curry. His shooting keyed the Warriors' series-saving comeback in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals at Oklahoma City.

While Curry might be the slightly more accurate 3-point shooter, and is certainly better off the dribble, Thompson has the quicker release. And Thompson's size makes it difficult to slow him down when he gets going. Thompson's 276 triples were the most ever by a player besides Curry. Thompson also shot better than ever before from inside the arc, making a career-high 45.5 percent of his 2-point jumpers from beyond 16 feet ( per Basketball-Reference.com) while at the same time taking fewer of those lower-value shots.

As recently as 2014-15, Thompson was far more effective when sharing the court with Curry. According to NBA.com/Stats research, his true shooting percentage dropped from .603 with Curry to .544 without him. That wasn't the case last season, when Thompson learned to thrive as a leading option on offense. Despite bumping his usage rate to 30.1 percent of Golden State's plays with Curry on the bench, Thompson still posted robust .588 true shooting, allowing him to carry the Warriors during Curry's injury and become an offensive leader of bench-heavy units.

Despite Curry's improvement, Thompson will always be the better Golden State guard defensively. He has quick feet for his size and matches up well on point guards, something the Warriors typically go to later in games and series. Thompson also proved surprisingly adept at defending LeBron James in the NBA Finals when the Cavaliers tried to use Golden State's switches to create a mismatch.

Kevin Durant

Position: Forward

Experience: 9 years

Age: 27

Scouting report

+ Giant wing player with the ability to get off his shot over any defender

+ Skilled at making difficult shots but will have to limit those attempts

+ Terrifying defensive presence when fully engaged

Analysis

There's little historical track record for the move Durant made this summer, leaving the Thunder to sign with the Warriors as an unrestricted free agent. While Golden State's collection of stars has drawn inevitable comparisons to the Miami Heat's big three, that was a team built from scratch. In this case, Durant is joining a largely intact Golden State core. As a result, the former MVP will likely have to adapt more to his new team than the other way around.

The way the Warriors move the basketball figures to be the biggest adjustment for Durant. According to SportVU tracking data on NBA.com/Stats, he held the ball an average of 3.1 seconds per touch last season, more than any Golden State player besides Curry (5.5). Draymond Green, at 2.6 seconds per touch, was second on the Warriors, and incumbent small forward Harrison Barnes averaged just 1.2 seconds per touch.

In part, that reflects Durant running the Oklahoma City offense as a pseudo-point guard when Russell Westbrook was on the bench. However, it also shows his desire to hold the ball and survey the defense, something at odds with how Golden State usually plays. Like LaMarcus Aldridge joining the San Antonio Spurs last season, Durant will have to become comfortable making quicker decisions whether to shoot, attack or move the ball.

Of course, the Warriors' offense will feature Durant's skills, and he gives them another bailout option late in the clock. Nobody in the league is better at hitting difficult shots than Durant, who can get off a shot any time he wants thanks to his size (he's surely bigger than his listed 6-foot-9) and long arms. That can compel Durant to settle instead of looking for better shots, but he's also a gifted playmaker who will fill Green's role as a creator off the pick-and-roll at times.

Playing against Golden State in the conference finals, Durant made good on his immense defensive potential. Combining the size of a power forward (or small center) with the mobility of a wing allows Durant to cover ground quickly as a help defender and block passing lanes. He has been reluctant in the past to play extended minutes at the 4, but surely the Warriors' best lineups will feature Durant in the role Barnes played in the Death Lineup. KD is an upgrade as a defensive rebounder and rim protector.

Draymond Green

Position: Forward

Experience: 4 years

Age: 26

Scouting report

+ Emotional leader of Warriors whose own emotions sometimes run too hot

+ Playmaking and ability to stretch defense from frontcourt unlock teammates' skills

+ Plays far bigger than his size defensively, setting up Death Lineup

Analysis

Golden State wouldn't have reached a championship, a 73-9 record, and back-to-back Finals without Green's fiery leadership. His passion fueled a rise from second-round pick to one of the league's top 10 players.

Yet Green can go too far, and the debate about whether his leg kicks were inadvertent or dirty raged throughout the playoffs. Ultimately, Green found himself suspended for a possible closeout game in the NBA Finals, which might have swung the series in Cleveland's favor.

Offseason scandals, from a fight in East Lansing that resulted in a plea bargain on assault charges to a Snapchat snafu, were further indications that Green must find a way to maintain control without sacrificing the fire that propels him to great heights on the court.

Offensively, Green took a huge leap in his development last season. Particularly under acting head coach Luke Walton, he was a more accurate 3-point shooter than ever before; Green hit 41.4 percent of his 3-point attempts under Walton before sliding to 34.9 percent under Steve Kerr -- similar to his 34.2 percent career mark. Beyond the additional points, those triples force defenders to play closer to Green, opening up the drive.

He also functioned as something of a point forward for the Warriors. Green's 7.4 assists per game were double his 2014-15 average and the most ever by a full-time power forward or center not named Wilt Chamberlain. Green started running pick-and-rolls at times and more or less ran the point with Curry out of the lineup.

For the second consecutive year, Green finished as runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Without blocking more shots, he has developed into a legitimate rim protector. According to SportVU tracking data on NBA.com/Stats, opponents shot worse against Green within five feet of the basket (46.6 percent) than league block leader Hassan Whiteside (46.9 percent). While there's surely some team effect there, Green's ability to protect the rim allowed Golden State to use him at center more frequently than the 2014-15 regular season.

Such lineups, including the Death Lineup, were the team's best. In part, these lineups are so effective defensively because putting Green at center means the Warriors can switch nearly any pick-and-roll because of his ability to defend guards one-on-one.

Zaza Pachulia

Position: Center

Experience: 13 years

Age: 32

Scouting report

+ Veteran center who relies on experience and instincts more than athleticism

+ Good positional defender but not a shot-blocking threat

+ Effective passer out of the high post but not a shooting threat

Analysis

One of last season's stranger developments was Pachulia nearly being voted an All-Star starter. How did a little-known journeyman on the Dallas Mavericks get more votes than new teammate Draymond Green? Pachulia leveraged support on social media from the president of his native Georgia (the republic, not the state), singer Wyclef Jean and Vine star Hayes Grier.

While Pachulia didn't play at an All-Star level, he did play well in the first half before slumping after the break and losing his hold on a starting job. An unrestricted free agent over the summer, Pachulia spurned larger offers to sign a one-year, $2.9 million deal to serve as Golden State's starting center.

Offensively, Pachulia should be able to step into the same role as predecessor Andrew Bogut (who will replace him in Dallas). He's a fine playmaker from the high post who averaged 3.7 assists per 36 minutes each of his past two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks before handling the ball less frequently last season.

Like Bogut, Pachulia would rather pass or even drive after a pump fake than shoot a set shot from the perimeter. However, he is a good free throw shooter (76.8 percent last season). The Warriors will miss Bogut's ability to finish lobs. Per Basketball-Reference.com, the ground-bound Pachulia made just 13 dunks last season -- precisely one-sixth of Bogut's total.

At the other end, Pachulia isn't a shot blocker at all. He rejected 22 shots last season, fewer than Bogut had in the playoffs (35). Since he's not going to affect shots after they're taken, Pachulia must rely on discouraging them with his positioning. He's also a good pick-and-roll defender.

As a result, Pachulia ranked a respectable 16th among centers in the defensive component of ESPN's real plus-minus (RPM). While that's a big downgrade from Bogut (who led the league in defensive RPM), it's awfully good for $2.9 million.

Reserves

Andre Iguodala

Position: Forward

Experience: 12 years

Age: 32

Scouting report

+ Has sacrificed starting role but frequently finishes games as part of Death Lineup

+ Elite defender who can contain high-scoring opponents and contribute help

+ Capable playmaker who has become average 3-point shooter

Analysis

When the Warriors' season was on the line in the Western Conference finals, Kerr turned to Iguodala, who started the second half of Game 6 and then Game 7, reconfirming his importance to the team. With Durant now ahead of him, starting is out the window for Iguodala, but he remains a crucial part of Golden State's smaller lineups that will likely finish most games.

Surprisingly, an SI.com feature on the Warriors' comeback suggested the coaching staff turned to Iguodala as a starter more for offense than his ability to defend Durant. They wanted Iguodala to run the offense while bringing Curry and Thompson off screens. A strong ball handler who effectively played point guard at times with the Philadelphia 76ers, Iguodala averaged 4.6 assists per 36 minutes last season despite spending most of his minutes with the starters camped out in the corners.

Thanks to the open looks his teammates create, Iguodala has been a league-average 3-point shooter the past two seasons on his rainbow attempts. He has also developed into an adept midrange shooter who made a career-high 57.0 percent of his attempts inside the arc last season.

Still, defense is Iguodala's calling card. He was Golden State's best option against both Durant -- no longer a concern other than intrasquad scrimmages -- and James in the playoffs. Iguodala has exceptional hand strength that allows him to reach in and block shots or strip the ball, as he did repeatedly in the fourth quarter of Game 6 in the Finals. And he has both the lateral mobility to keep opponents in front of him and the upper-body strength to deter them in the post.

Shaun Livingston

Position: Guard

Experience: 11 years

Age: 30

Scouting report

+ Non-shooting point guard who has honed unorthodox game

+ Effective midrange shooter with unblockable turnaround

+ Capable of defending multiple positions due to size and length

Analysis

It was an eventful postseason for Livingston, who started seven games (five of them wins) at point guard in place of the injured Curry. He slumped badly in the Western Conference finals, unable to find the kind of mismatches he regularly abuses on offense, then was the Warriors' leading scorer in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Though the final season of Livingston's contract was only partially guaranteed through the end of June, there was never any question he'd return despite Golden State needing to clear cap space to sign Durant.

Livingston's skill set is unique among point guards in NBA history. He virtually never initiates pick-and-rolls and doesn't space the floor either (Livingston attempted 12 3-pointers last season, his most since 2006-07, making two of them). Yet Livingston is effective anyway, in large part because at 6-foot-7, he can take most opponents down to the post and shoot accurate turnarounds they have no hope of contesting. More than 40 percent of Livingston's shot attempts came between 10 and 16 feet, per Basketball-Reference.com research, and his 51.8 percent accuracy on those tries was second to Durant (53.7 percent) among players with at least 100 attempts. Better still, opponents can't really bring a second defender because of Livingston's ability to pass out of the post.

Defensively, Livingston's size means having him at point guard is like using a wing to defend point guards without creating the other problematic matchups that result from crossmatching. The Warriors can also use him on wings when preferable; he defended Durant at times when Iguodala was on the bench.

David West

Position: Forward

Experience: 13 years

Age: 35

Scouting report

+ Veteran power forward looking to enjoy golden years with contenders

+ Highly accurate midrange shooter who rarely ventures beyond arc

+ Physical defender with experience and savvy

Analysis

After taking a huge pay cut to join the San Antonio Spurs for the veteran's minimum last summer, West moved to Golden State on a similar contract for 2016-17. Having made nearly $90 million in his career, West has prioritized an enjoyable environment and the chance to win a championship over salary. The Warriors, like the Spurs last season, get a better player than they could have reasonably expected at the price.

West thrived in the San Antonio offense, which created more easy opportunities than he had in the past. A career-high 78.4 percent of West's 2-pointers were assisted, and he shot a career-best 54.6 percent on them. The Golden State offense should be a similarly good fit, although West will have to take turns with Livingston in the mid-post. West was fifth in accuracy from 10-16 feet, shooting an even 50 percent. West is nearly as good on longer 2s, though he has never extended to 3-point range like other pick-and-pop power forwards.

Defensively, West was somewhat miscast with the Spurs playing alongside Boris Diaw in lineups that offered little in the way of rim protection. West should be able to mostly stick to power forward with the Warriors, and he remains effective there, although he has lost some mobility in his mid-30s. One of the league's strongest players, West is difficult to move in the post and is good at slapping down at the ball without getting called for fouls.

Patrick McCaw

Position: Guard

Experience: Rookie

Age: 20

Scouting report

+ Athletic wing who slipped to second round of draft

+ Good ball handler with inconsistent shooting form

+ Aggressive defender with good length for size

When McCaw slipped to the second round, Golden State was able to buy the 38th pick from the Milwaukee Bucks to draft the UNLV sophomore. After an impressive performance in front of the home crowd at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, McCaw has a chance to serve as backup shooting guard with Leandro Barbosa's departure.

In some ways, McCaw compares to Iguodala. He's probably a better shooter entering the league, having made 36.7 percent of his 3-point attempts from the college line. McCaw jumps high on his release and has something of an exaggerated push shot, which tends to result in him missing short or long. Like Iguodala, McCaw can serve as a secondary ball handler. He'll grab and go in transition and handed out 4.6 assists per game as a sophomore. With his speed and leaping ability, McCaw should also be effective as a finisher in the open court.

At this point, McCaw isn't really a one-on-one stopper. He's a bit too flighty on the ball for that kind of responsibility and also lacks the bulk to deal with most small forwards. McCaw is better as a team defender. He likes to play the passing lanes and averaged 2.9 steals per 40 minutes as a sophomore, a key reason he was a favorite of statistical draft models. McCaw rated 19th in my WARP projections.

Anderson Varejao

Position: Center

Experience: 12 years

Age: 33

Scouting report

+ Veteran center who has grown increasingly reliant on deception

+ Good passer from high post who can take unnecessary risks

+ Annoying defensive presence who draws and commits fouls regularly

Analysis

After 11-plus seasons in Cleveland, Varejao was traded by the Cavaliers to the Blazers in a tax-saving move at the deadline. Waived immediately, he landed in Golden State for the veteran's minimum, a move that loomed large in the playoffs. Varejao played a key role in the Warriors' decisive run in the third quarter of Game 7 of the Western Conference finals but was less effective in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against his former team. Golden State was outscored by nine points in Varejao's 8:29 of action in a game the Warriors lost by four points. Nonetheless, Varejao returned on a new one-year contract and is the favorite to back up Pachulia at center.

In fairness, Varejao had to adjust to a system entirely different than the one he had been playing in Cleveland. In theory, Varejao's skills should fit better in Golden State. He sees the court well from the high post and was an effective midrange shooter until last season, when he shot just 25.9 percent on 2-point attempts beyond 16 feet, according to Basketbll-Reference.com. The problem was Varejao tried to do entirely too much, forcing passes into traffic and driving off his ridiculously exaggerated pumpfakes instead of merely keeping the offense moving. Varejao's first rule should be doing no harm.

Having lost much of the mobility that made him effective defensively in his prime, Varejao's main tactic at this point is to try to draw fouls. The resulting contact often leads to fouls on Varejao, who was called for 6.8 per 36 minutes after joining the Warriors -- more than double his 2014-15 rate. And when referees swallow their whistles, as in Game 7 of the Finals, Varejao is often left out of position and powerless to do anything defensively.

A herniated disc in his lower back forced Varejao to miss the Olympics in his native Brazil. He's expected to be ready for training camp.

James Michael McAdoo

Position: Forward

Experience: 2 years

Age: 23

Scouting report

+ Power forward by trade who has been asked to play center at times

+ Above-the-rim finisher in pick-and-roll game

+ Mobile defender who can get pushed around on the glass

Analysis

McAdoo hadn't seen game action in more than a month when Kerr inserted him in the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. He went on to play rotation minutes each of the next two games, a possible preview of McAdoo's role this season on a more depleted Warriors bench. After re-signing on a one-year deal for the minimum, McAdoo figures to back up both frontcourt spots with a chance to serve as backup center.

A power forward at North Carolina, the 6-foot-9 McAdoo will block the occasional shot with his long wingspan. Physical centers -- or power forwards -- can push him around. McAdoo was an atrocious defensive rebounder in limited action, grabbing just 10.9 percent of available defensive boards. However, McAdoo is effective defending out on the perimeter on pick-and-rolls and switching on slower guards.

One plus to McAdoo playing center is he can outrun slower opponents in transition. He's also capable of finishing lobs above the rim; per Basketball-Reference.com, a third of McAdoo's 45 field goals came on dunks. Despite his difficulty on the defensive glass, McAdoo is a relentless offensive rebounding presence who helped keep missed shots alive during the Finals. And he actually showed impressive touch on his rare attempts away from the basket, including a corner 3-pointer.

Ian Clark

Position: Guard

Experience: 3 years

Age: 25

Scouting report

+ Shooting specialist who can run the offense in a pinch

+ Prone to turnovers when he tries to do too much

+ Doesn't really have a position defensively

After winning the Warriors' 15th and final roster spot in training camp, Clark played more minutes (578) than his first two seasons combined and 16 games in the playoffs at both guard spots. He'll be back on a one-year deal at the minimum with a chance to fill Barbosa's spot in the rotation.

An elite 3-point shooter in college at Belmont, Clark has never been able to match that kind of success from the NBA line. Last season's 35.7 percent shooting -- a bit better than league average -- was a career high. Still, Clark did enough to stay on the court. In particular, he was able to serve as a third point guard and help run the offense when Curry was injured. Clark can get himself in trouble trying to do too much off the dribble, but that versatility remains a key selling point with just two true point guards on the roster.

At the other end, Clark is a man without a position. At 6-foot-3, he gives up size to most shooting guards but doesn't really have the foot speed to defend point guards. Still, against second-unit opponents, Clark did enough to hold his own.

Kevon Looney

Position: Forward

Experience: 1 year

Age: 20

Scouting report

+ Athletic power forward who missed most of rookie season

+ Flashed 3-point range in the D-League

+ Fine rebounder with grab-and-go capability

Golden State drafted Looney knowing he'd need to undergo hip surgery, which sidelined him until mid-January. After playing five games with the Warriors and 12 more in the D-League, Looney underwent a second surgery on the same hip, setting back his development. After missing the NBA Summer League, Looney should be cleared in time for training camp.

Drafted at 19, Looney was going to be a project even if he had stayed healthy. In time, Golden State surely envisions a stretch 4 (Looney made nine 3s in 29 attempts in the D-League) with plus athleticism and rebounding. Looney was a dominant offensive rebounder and good on the defensive glass at the D-League level (averaging 13.9 per 36 minutes) and also has the ballhandling chops to grab a board and start the break.

Damian Jones

Position: Center

Experience: Rookie

Age: 21

Scouting report

+ Project center who is returning from pectoral surgery

+ High-percentage finisher who is prone to turnovers

+ Adequate shot blocker who struggles on defensive glass

To fill their quota for Vanderbilt centers, the Warriors drafted Jones before Festus Ezeli left for Portland as a free agent. Like Looney, Jones fell in the draft in part due to injury; he underwent pectoral surgery the week before the draft. The injury kept Jones off the court in Las Vegas, though the anticipated timetable would put him back for the start of training camp.

Much of Jones' college production came in the post; his 186 points on post-ups ranked 22nd among Division I players, according to Synergy Sports tracking. Since Jones is unlikely to get those opportunities at Golden State, it's more encouraging that he shot 80 percent as a roll man in the pick-and-roll. He will have to do a better job of catching the ball in traffic after committing turnovers on 12.2 percent of his post-up plays. And he could certainly stand to improve the 56.5 percent he shot at the free throw line.

Despite good size (including a wingspan near 7-foot-4), Jones isn't nearly the shot-blocking presence Ezeli was in college. He blocked more than six percent of opponents' 2-point attempts (as a sophomore), whereas Ezeli was at nine percent or better all three years for which we have complete data. Jones is also a below-average defensive rebounder for a center and committed five fouls per 40 minutes as a junior. So Jones has more development ahead before he can likely help the Warriors.

JaVale McGee

Position: Center

Experience: 8 years

Age: 28

Scouting report

+ Athletic tease who has scarcely played past three seasons

+ Prolific shot blocker who tends to take himself out of position

+ Frequent dunker who shouldn't shoot outside of paint

In need of more size and rim protection, the Warriors reportedly signed McGee to a non-guaranteed contract for the veteran's minimum and will give him a chance to win the 15th spot on the roster in training camp. Expectations for McGee should be tempered by the fact he couldn't take advantage of a similar opportunity last season with the Dallas Mavericks. McGee made the roster but played just 370 minutes despite mostly good health after spending two years battling leg injuries. A frontcourt-heavy roster -- half of the 14 players with guaranteed contracts are power forwards and centers -- may also work against McGee's chances of sticking.

On paper, McGee is a great fit for what Golden State needs. That starts with his track record as a shot blocker. McGee led the league in block percentage in 2010-11 (6.7 percent of opponents' 2-point attempts) and wasn't far off that mark in limited action last season (5.9 percent). Those blocks have always come with a price, however. McGee tends to overhelp, racking up goaltending calls (he committed seven last season, ranking just outside the league's top 20 per NBAminer.com) and leaving the defensive glass unattended. So McGee has never rated as an elite defender by RPM, or even a good one.

McGee also could replace the lob finishes with Bogut's departure. Per Basketball-Reference.com, 49 of his 77 field goals last season came on dunks. The problem comes when McGee tries to shoot anything else. Remarkably, McGee shot just 34.1 percent on non-dunks. Take out layups and that drops to 28.9 percent. Golden State also couldn't trust McGee to handle the ball in the high post. He had 21 turnovers last season against three assists.

Elliot Williams

Position: Guard

Experience: 4 years

Age: 27

Scouting report

+ Quadruple-A player who has excelled in D-League

+ Has developed into credible outside shooter and playmaker

+ Has enough size to defend either guard spot

Consider Williams the basketball equivalent of a "quadruple-A player" in baseball: too good for the minors but not quite good enough for the big leagues. Playing for the Warriors' D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, Williams averaged 28.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game last season -- marks surpassed by just two players ( James Harden and Russell Westbrook) in the NBA the past seven years. Nonetheless, Williams couldn't stick in the NBA beyond a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Golden State will give Williams a chance this year in training camp, and if he does make the team, Williams could even end up as a rotation player at guard.

A first-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers whose early career was derailed by a series of major injuries, Williams has made strides as both a shooter (he has shot 36 percent from 3-point range the past two years in the D-League) and as a lead ball handler. While his assist rate is partially inflated by fast pace and heavy minutes (41 per game last season), Williams has certainly shown enough playmaking chops to serve as a secondary ball handler. And at 6-foot-5, he has more than enough size to defend shooting guards. On paper, that should translate to an NBA player. Maybe this is the year.