Marquese Chriss is getting his best chance to live up to the hype with the Golden State Warriors, and the franchise clearly intends on maximizing the talent that made Chriss the no. 8 overall pick pick in the 2016 draft.
“Golden State views Chriss as a potential franchise building block, whose knack for rim-running, passing and interior defense makes him an ideal fit in its system,” writes Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle. “The front office is so optimistic about his future, according to multiple sources, that it would be comfortable entering next season with him as the starting center.”
Chriss was traded on draft day to the Phoenix Suns. After an encouraging rookie season, he struggled in stints with the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers before beginning to find his way as a stretch-four with the Warriors this past season.
Over his final 15 games, Chriss put up 13.7 points (59 percent shooting) and 8.7 rebounds in 26.7 minutes. His passing and dribble-handoff ability are valuable qualities within the Dubs' motion system.
Many mock drafts have the Warriors selecting center James Wiseman with their top five pick, but the team's apparent belief in Chriss may influence their draft day decision-making.
“I’m just thankful to have an organization that believes in me,” Marquese Chriss said, per Letourneau. “At the end of the day, if they do draft (Wiseman), I know they’re making the best decision that they can for this team and that they feel will be beneficial for us to win a championship. As a team player, I want to win and I want to be a part of the team. Whatever role I have to have to make that happen, I’ll take on.”
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