Warriors’ frontcourt rotation due for shift with Kevon Looney’s return

The strength of the Warriors lineup is their interior, but will the return of Kevon Looney clog the frontline rotation?

The underlying positive side of the Warriors roster getting tarnished by injury has been the opportunities that have opened up for players at the end of the bench.

Depth pieces like Omari Spellman and Marquese Chriss have impressed with an increased role for the Warriors. Each has earned more playing time, but are their minutes in the Warriors rotation to spare with reinforcements on the way?

For the first time in a long time, Golden State will be getting some healthy bodies returning to the lineup, starting with Kevon Looney. Looney signed a 3-year contract worth $15 million over the offseason and looks to be a core piece for the Warriors’ future. What does that mean for the playing time of Spellman, Chriss and Willie Cauley-Stein?

Adding Looney and a healthy Draymond Green to the Warriors frontcourt suddenly crowds the Warriors big-man rotation— especially if standout rookie Eric Paschall gets minutes at power forward.

Cauley-Stein has started every game he’s been available except for once this season, but hasn’t played a game with Looney next to him. Looney is a bit more versatile and can play both big man positions, while Cauley-Stein is primarily a center option for coach Steve Kerr. Looney’s only start of the season came at the five, with Green playing next to him at the four, in the first game of 2019.

If Kerr opts to continue starting Cauley-Stein, the Warriors can play either Green, Looney, or Paschall at power forward, another crowded position. Both Green and Paschall can play at small forward as well if Kerr decides to go big— something he’s done more of with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson unavailable.

Looney’s return gives Kerr and the Warriors a lot more flexibility with how the team deplores Paschall and Green. With the team still dealing with injuries to their backcourt, Kerr could continue to run Green out as his point guard, with Looney, Cauley-Stein and Pachall all on the floor at the same time.

Looney’s return to the lineup is, of course, a positive; however, it does provide a predicament with the usage of Spellman and Chriss. Each has been seeing a large number of minutes that will probably be split upon Looney’s return to full health.

Spellman’s established himself as a legitimate stretch-four and an offensive rebounding machine, while Chriss has been an energizer off the bench. Each has a unique skill set, but Kerr will have to get creative with how he uses them.

The Warriors will have some time to figure out what rotation works best as they’re still dealing with a crop of injuries. Looney is expected to slowly be worked back into the rotation, while Green is dealing with a lingering sore heel. While Kerr maps out how his frontline will look, Chriss and Spellman will have a handful of more opportunities to show they deserve to be apart of the rotation.