With the Steph Curry, the face of their franchise, and D'Angelo Russell, their biggest off-season addition, both sidelined with injuries, the Golden State Warriors have turned to undrafted rookie Ky Bowman. The 22-year-old point guard has made quite the impression on head coach Steve Kerr, but the two-way deal the team signed him to may make it difficult for the team to keep him around.
Following the Warriors' 113-109 loss to the Utah Jazz, Kerr praised Bowman for capitalizing on this chance. “All we can do is keep giving him the opportunity, and he’s seizing it,” said Kerr. “It’s a great opportunity for him as well as our other young players… a guy like Ky Bowman is playing for his career and so for him to get this opportunity and seize it and play well and show the league what he’s about it’s fantastic.”
However, players on two-way deals are allowed just 45 days on an NBA roster, and the clock is ticking for Bowman. The Warriors are hard-capped and would have to clear some salary off of their books before they could sign Bowman for the rest of the season.
“Obviously, I want to keep him. I think we feel really strongly about that,” Kerr added. “But if we can’t, I’m really happy he’s shown what he can do and shown he belongs in the NBA.”
Bowman has played in all 16 of the Warriors games this season, and is averaging 7.6 points and 2.3 assists. Over the course of their latest road trip, in addition to Curry's broken hand and Russell's sprained thumb, Draymond Green has sat with a sore heel. Over the span of those four games, Bowman has stepped up for the injury-ravaged Warriors, averaging 13.8 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals.
If they're unable to retain Bowman, then Golden State's would have to rely on a guard rotation of Alec Burks, Jacob Evans, Damion Lee and Jordan Poole, at least until Russell and Curry could return.
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