The Warriors have signed free agent guard Jerome Robinson to a two-way contract, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link). Golden State now has a full 21-man roster.
The 13th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Robinson appeared in 113 regular season games for the Clippers and Wizards from 2018-21, averaging 4.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 14.2 minutes per night. He hasn’t played an NBA game since the 2020/21 season, when he made 17 appearances with Washington.
Robinson has spent the past two seasons playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s G League affiliate. In 2022/23, he averaged 14.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, and 4.1 RPG with a .455/.353/.909 shooting line in 38 games (29.4 MPG) for Santa Cruz.
Robinson’s agreement with Golden State was initially reported back in July, over two months ago. At that time, the expectation was that he’d sign a training camp deal. Instead, he’ll fill out the 21-man preseason roster by claiming the team’s third two-way slot alongside Lester Quinones and Usman Garuba. However, Anthony Slater of The Athletic suggests (via Twitter) that Robinson may have to battle in training camp to hang onto that spot.
Two-way deals only come with a small partial guarantee, while players on Exhibit 10 contracts can be converted to two-way contracts prior to the regular season, so it would be simply enough for Golden State to make a preseason change.
More guards, just what we don’t need.
But sure, our 4th string Guards need a Backup.
18 Roster spots and not 1 Invested in a Veteran, traditional Center to keep in Reserve behind Looney?
FO is delusional if they think a rookie like Trayce-Jackson Davis or 2-Way Usman Garuba can step in and guard the Elite Big men that Looney guards.
Once again, banking on Looney staying healthy all season-long. Good luck with that approach.
Denver, Phoenix and LA all have SIZE on their Rosters.
Hmm…I guess you didn’t notice that they also signed Dario Saric awhile back. He had a very good summer in International games. And, the Dubs are a better rebounding team than Denver and Phoenix, who just downgraded their starting Center.
I like Saric, but he’s a Stretch-4. I get why they signed him, so they can have a Big Man shooter to play next to Kuminga. Its on the Defense side of the court that I worry about. Not sure Saric can D up the Elite Bigs we’ll face in the WC Playoffs when Looney goes to the bench.
My whole point is this – when you have 18 roster spots available, why can not invest 1 in a veteran, traditional Big Man to keep behind Looney?
We really prefer having more Guards over having a Nerlens Noel or Dwight Howard in reserve?
Banking on Looney staying healthy for a 3rd year in a row is risky.
Don’t worry its a 2 way deal and 1 of the two ways is a big man. Its not guaranteed so they could switch out later. i rather see a 2 way on a PG than a regular roster spot.
Oh no!!! The Warriors didn’t sign a 7 footer to solve their non-existent rebounding problem. For shame. Whatever will they do???
We’ll circle back when Looney gets injured.
I remind you, Denver’s frontcourt boasts 6-11 Jokic, 6-10 Aaron Gordon, 6-10 Porter Jr.
They beat the Suns and then the Lakers, who beat us, mostly because we couldn’t slow down AD.
The annual Small Ball approach did not work last year. And now our team is Older, Smaller, and Slower, swapping out Poole for CP3. Not seeing us advance past the 1st Round. We were lucky to do so in April.
Despite all of Denver’s size, they 19th in rebounding last season. They weren’t much better in the playoffs. The Warriors were 8th. The Heat, with two 7 foot centers on their roster, were 26th. There is more to rebounding than just size.
Excellent points.
But what is your Take on this particular Signing?
Is there a big difference between Jerome Robinson and Lester Quinones? They seem awfully similar in size and game.
Should not our last 2-Way Contract gone to a Wing instead?
…. also, is not Draft pick Brandin Podziemski supposed to provide the same Skills that Quinones and Robinson provide ?
Seems like we are collecting too many Clones in the Combo guard role?
Again, poor Roster construction.
Rosters aren’t set in stone. They’ll work out roles in training camp to see where everyone fits. There is plenty of time to add, or waive, players.
It’s one thing to want the Warriors to sign more defensive wings or frontcourt guys.
It’s another thing entirely to think that the lack of a 7-foot nobody in the paint was why they lost last season. Or why they might suck this season, or something. Traditional Centers don’t work in the motion offense unless they have a non-standard skill. Zaza was elite in transition, Bogut was an elite cutter, and Cousins could shoot. Dwight Howard would just suck in GS.
Saric is 6’11” and actually fits the Warriors system. He’s the replacement for Bjelica they were missing last season. The Warriors are counting on 6’8″ Kuminga to replace 6’8″ Otto Porter from that run. They also just drafted Trayce Jackson-Davis, who looks like a younger, more offensively aggressive Looney (slightly smaller wingspan, but not by much, and otherwise almost identical physically). They’ll be fine.
In pre-draft scouting reports, Jackson-Davis was compared to Draymond. People might be sleeping on Garuba. The guy plays defense, rebounds, and can pass the ball. He might be something they sorely missed off the bench last season.
The only problem I have with Garuba is that his offensive skillset doesn’t exist. He’s a worse version of Mitchell Robinson in a lot of ways. Granted, he still has value, and maybe he figures something out. Definitely worth a 2-way.
One of the very few Jerry West mistakes