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 NBL Kings 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 below a hard cap while also avoiding the first or second tax aprons.
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. 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.