Last night after the Golden State Warriors underwhelming loss to the Sacramento Kings, Steve Kerr getting ejected wasn’t the most significant storyline following the game.
In a surprise move, the Warriors waived Marquese Chriss to presumably open up a roster spot for two-way contract guard, Damion Lee. Moving on from a 22-year-old power forward that’s bounced around the NBA in his four-year career may not ring any alarms, but with Golden State, Chriss was playing well.
Chriss averaged 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 37 games for Golden State this season. Over his time in San Francisco, the former Washington Husky had 13 contests with double-digit scoring efforts. In four games, Chriss recorded a double-double.
Chriss was on the verge of getting his non-guaranteed deal turned into a fully guaranteed contract, yet before his contract deadline, the Warriors waived the Sacramento native.
Chriss sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Logan Murdock to reflect on his stint with Golden State. The former Warriors center said getting let go was a disappointment, but understood Golden State had to make a business decision.
Chriss’ time with the Warriors may not be entirely over, as they do have the chance to sign him to a 10-day contract later in the season if he clears NBA waivers. Murdock asked Chriss about a reunion on a 10-day contract later in the season, and the now-former member of Golden State said he would be up for it.
We’ve had conversations about certain things to try and make things work, but I think that’s something that I would try to keep between myself and them, just because I don’t know any situation that might come up — But who knows? I would like to be here. So eventually, if that happens, I would be all for it.
The Warriors thought highly enough of Chriss to waive Alfonzo McKinnie in training camp to sign the former lottery pick to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal. It’s not out of the question for Golden State to attempt to bring Chriss back if the opportunity opens up down the road.