Omri Casspi joined the Golden State Warriors with relatively little fanfare this offseason as he arrived on a veteran’s minimum contract. Meanwhile, Nick Young — a significantly bigger name and more popular player — was signed with the Warriors’ full mid-level exception of $5.2 million.
One would’ve expected Young to have the clear upper hand at one of the Warriors’ coveted rotation spots given the price they paid him. However, Young was reportedly ceding playing time to Casspi by the start of camp.
And according to the San Francisco Chronicles’ Connor Letourneau, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is apparently a big fan of Omri Casspi’s game. He even said the newcomer’s diverse skill set fits everything his team does.
“He fits into everything that we do,” Kerr said. “He’s a cutter. He’s a spacer. He sees the game as it unfolds. He’s going to be really good for us.”
Apart from what Casspi can do offensively, Kerr left out what Casspi also provides on the defensive end, which is the versatility to defend either forward position somewhat competently. Meanwhile, Young has been a noted liability on that end over his entire career.
While Young comes with the big price tag and reputation, his spot in the rotation might not be safe given Omri Casspi's impressive first impression on Steve Kerr and the Warriors and his complementary fit to the team. If the Israeli can continue to show just how well he fits into the team, it may not be long until he locks a regular place in the rotation down.
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