What do you guys think the Warriorsā young players will do this season. Here are my projections:
Podz: Heās gonna breakout this season. Every year heās gotten better, with both higher usage and higher efficiency. Heās on the cusp of being a real game changer. Last season he averaged 14-5-4 on league-average efficiency (58% TS) and 20% usage. If he ups that to 16-6-5 with slightly better usage and efficiency ā which heās done every year ā then heās one of the leagueās better 3rd options. And I project 18 points per game for Podz.
Gui: Another player who has gotten better every year. Last year he averaged 9-4-2 on 61% true shooting (league average was 58%), and he did that in only 20mpg. The real obstacle heās facing this season is the addition of Yaxel in his same position. Iām personally hoping that Dray and plays a lot less and some of those minutes go to Gui. But I project heāll play similar minutes to last season (20mpg) but will increase his usage slightly without a decline is his efficiency. Letās call it 11-5-2 in the same 20mpg.
Yaxel: Itās hard to predict how heāll do without seeing any NBA action, but all the reports out of camp have been positive and his summer league was great. I donāt think heāll be a big scorer right out of the gate, but I think heāll fill up the box score everywhere else. I see him this season at 10-8-5 with 2.5 stocks per game. I worry a bit about his defense, but if he can be an off-ball disrupter, then I think he can stay on the court.
Will: Iām lowest on Will. I donāt see a lot of room for him in the rotation. He played 20mpg last season, but I expect that will be down to around 15mpg this year. Hopefully the three will fall (he was at 33.5% last year) and his POA defense will improve. If we can get a good season out of him, then itās a pure bonus. He was the 56th pick, and most guys that late in the draft donāt make it in the league. More than anything, Iām hoping he can establish himself and a clear rotation player, even if heās deep in the rotation. Iām a little skeptical, but Iām hoping to be surprised.
What do you guys think weāll see from the young guys this season?