Second-round pick Alex Toohey believes he’s a perfect fit for the Warriors, even though he remains unsigned. Toohey, a 6’8” Australian forward, was selected with the No. 52 pick in the draft.
He notes that Andrew Bogut spent a chunk of his career in the organization and Luc Longley played for the Bulls in the 1990s when Steve Kerr also wore a Chicago uniform. Those Aussies are part-owners of the Sydney Kings. Toohey played for the Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League for the last two seasons.
“The list of teams that were interested in me, I think I got the best of the lot,” Toohey told Olgun Uluc of ESPN. “Obviously [there’s] the Australian connection there, and the way they play, it’s something I think I’ve learned a lot before even knowing I’m going to be a Warrior: learning how they play, studying their schemes, their offenses and defenses.”
Despite his draft position, Toohey believes he can make an immediate impact. First, the Warriors have to officially add him to either the 15-man or two-way roster. Toohey is one of the remaining unsigned second-rounders, due to the ongoing saga involving restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
Golden State has essentially frozen its roster until the Kuminga situation is resolved. The Warriors are looking to maximize their cap flexibility and don’t want to lock in certain roster spots or create a hard cap before determining what will happen with Kuminga.
Toohey got an NBA education during Summer League play. He appeared in six games last month and averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per contest. He shot just 26.2 percent from the field.
“It was tough,” Toohey said. “The athleticism is obviously another level, and the pace of the game. Especially the Warriors; we had one of the highest-paced offenses. And it felt like that. We’d be pretty gassed after a few minutes of getting up and down. We felt that wore teams down, and that put us in some games we maybe shouldn’t have been in. That’s definitely one part of it.
“Then, figuring out that: I got drafted for a reason. They obviously see things in me, and believe in me, so it’s just finding that internal confidence and being able to make a play in transition, or make a three when it comes your way.”
I watched some of the Summer League games with Toohey. He is tough as hell like most Aussie ballers. That is only good thing I can say about him.
He’s way way way too slow for NBA. He can’t get his shot off unless standing still. The jumper looks smooth but it doesn’t go down. Did I say he was slow?
If Alex Toohey is getting minutes this season the W’s aren’t going to playoffs. Anything he can do Gui Santos can do way way better. Hope I’m wrong but this guy looks like a stiff.
What you see in the summer league games is just open practice. Podz looked terrible in summer league his first year. Watching teh summer league games the defensive was good by teh warriors but it was the same old issue of no tall big center in the middle.
Summer League level of play sucks because players don’t know each other but the players are playing for their careers so they are playing their butts off.
Every NBA Scout is there making player evaluations. If you can’t see a player is slow and unathletic from their Summer League games your not watching.
I saw him playing defense and passing a lot. He wasn’t trying to score. the only player that was showing quickness signed a 2 way with another team. There was a lot of bad players on the team. i expect him to play most of the season in the G league. You can’t expect a late 2nd round pick to play much his first year.
The Warriors already scouted him. Bogut recommended him. They know what they are getting. He also hadn’t played in long time. So, he wasn’t in game shape.
I saw him play a bunch in the NBL. He isn’t a “stiff” per se, but he looks like a fringe NBA player at most.
Depends if he can develop a shot. His defense looked good but the real test is against faster players.
> You can’t expect a late 2nd round pick to play much his first year.
True, expectations for a late 2nd round pick should be low, and most never do better than a 2-way deal in their careers. But Dunleavey did a great job with late 2nd round picks Quentin Post and Gui Santos, so there is always reason for hope at draft time.
I haven’t seen Toohey play, but I was suprised to learn he was drafted after shooting poorly in the Australian pro league for 2 years. Do the Warriors really need an undersized, unathletic PF who can’t shoot? What am I missing?
like all 2nd round players he is a project. He is only 21 and like college players need to learn a faster pace game. He is not undersized being 6-8. Post was horrible on defense when warriors drafted him and improved a lot. Shooting is easier to fix than moving your feet and learning to switch. Just hope people give him time to learn to play.
“You can’t expect a late 2nd round pick to play much his first year.”
*Laughs in Post and Santos*
If Toohey is 6’8″ then Kerr will play him at center smh
21 years old isn’t young, it’s old, for the NBA draft. And he’s already played 2 years professionally, so he was supposed to be NBA-ready. That was the main reason for drafting him.
He’s a ground-bound, 6’8″, 215 pounds. That’s too small to play the 4 in the NBA.
To play in the NBA, you need at least 1 of athleticism, size, or shooting. He has none of those 3.
what do you expect for a late 2nd round pick. I do find it strange how everyone is writing him off like you when he hasn’t even played in a G league game. look at memphis they have edey who is slow and unathletic but he still can play some. So go ahead and write him off but if he becomes an NBA player i will say told you so.
Edey is 7’4″ and 2 time College Player of the year. His exceptional size makes him an NBA player. Name an undersized NBA player who shoots poorly and is a bad athlete.
I’m not writing Toohey off. I’ve only seen him play a few minutes. But from what I’ve seen and read so far, I don’t get it.
edey is very slow only thing keepinbg him in the NBA is his size which I see as hurting him later once he staerts gaining weight.
“Name an undersized NBA player who shoots poorly and is a bad athlete.” – Draymond Green, Kevon Looney :)
Looney yes, but Draymond is an incredibly athletic human being. I mean seriously, how exactly is a defensive player of the year blocking guys 6-8 inches taller than him while also never stop moving not athletic?
Blind hate is blind hate.
Hey, no need to be up in arms about it :) I guess Draymond is athletic in a way, or he was in his best days.
He’s sneakily athletic – he definitely doesn’t look like he is.
Just trade Butler, Kuminga and this guys draft rights to Houston for Durant and Adams or Capela
Not sure, but I think Houston kinda likes Durant.
PG. ? Sheppard? Davison?
SG. Thompson
SF. Kuminga
PF. Smith Jr
C . Sengun
That is a good young team
Gives GS two real centers
Fred is overrated. Durant is going to have to carry Houston
i doubt the Rockets would do it or even the warriors. Rockets want to see what Durant brings to the team before they would even think of flipping him.
This is the one, actually.
Clever
“Please sign me, imma perfect fit!”