Trades and injuries have opened up Golden State as a destination for players on 10-day contracts. Since the NBA trade deadline, the Warriors have circulated through a handful of 10-day players in their rotation.
Currently, Golden State has three different players on 10-day deals. Dragan Bender, Mychal Mulder are both with the Warriors on 10-day contracts with Chasson Randle expected to sign a deal with the team soon.
Over the past two games, one player is proving he belongs in the NBA longer than 10-days. Mulder, a former member of the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, has made an impact since joining the Golden State Warriors.
Mulder started his NBA career against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring only two points. However, in the Warriors 18 point comeback against the Phoenix Suns, Mulder tallied 14 points and six rebounds while holding Devin Booker to 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
Mulder followed up his impressive game against the Suns with a 17 point effort against the Wizards. The Kentucky product added two rebounds, an assist, block and steal with Washington in town.
After the Warriors 124-110 loss to the Wizards, Kerr praised Mulder as a competitor.
Via Warriors SoundCloud:
He’s a really good player. I’m impressed by not only his shooting but his defense. Last night he took on a really good challenge with Devin Booker. Tonight we out him on Beal at times. He accepts the challenge. Plays bigger than he is. When you’re on a 10-day, it feels like every play is important, every shot is important — it’s not easy to relax and just go play. I thought last night was a really good indication of what kind of competitor he is. He was 0-fo-4, 0-for-5 in the third day of his contract and the clock is ticking and he just kept shooting, kept firing, kept defending and helped us win the game. Came back and had a great game again today. He’s a competitor and a really good player.
Through shooting, defense and praise from his head coach, Mulder is earning more playing time in Golden State. The 6-foot-3 guard will have three more games on his contract before the Warriors have to decide if they want to keep him past 10 days.