When word got out that the Golden State Warriors were in no hurry to hand Dragan Bender a second 10-day contract, something was a bit off. It sent of mixed feelers that the 22-year-old Croatian may have not impressed the Dubs coaching staff, a reason why they wanted to try out other players available in the market.
The move was initially understandable considering the Warriors were rebuilding for the future. However, the fact that Golden State was set to face the Toronto Raptors made it intriguing. Steph Curry was set to return and the two-time NBA MVP needed all the help he could get.
Probably aware that they needed healthy bodies, Bender would finally be given a second 10-day contract per the Golden State Warriors Twitter account. Though the Warriors wanted more flexibility as far as exploring other talents, the need to have people in uniform against the defending champions was immediate.
Looking ahead, it will be interesting if the second 10-day contract means Bender is a shoo-in to join the Warriors rotation. He could be the second player to get absorbed following Marquese Chriss. The fellow former top pick took the long road to crack the Warriors' lineup. If all goes accordingly, Bender could be the second one to do so and it makes plenty of sense.
Taking in the 4th overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft would bump up the count to three former top picks in the roster. Aside from Chriss, there is also Andrew Wiggins who Golden State acquired in a trade for D'Angelo Russell. Wiggins has proven to be a great fit and could be a vital piece of the franchise.
In the case of Bender, the fact that he is also a 7-footer could come into play. It is not every day that a team gets to land a young big talent like Bender. Though he hardly has good numbers to show, Kerr could be instrumental in his development. So far, the Croatian holds career averages of 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per Basketball-Reference.com.
Bender's future depends on how he performs the rest of the way. The Warriors are out of the playoff picture and are using their remaining games to prepare for the future. Bender could be part of a new young core for Dub City, joining veterans Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Wiggins. More new faces are expected by the summer as Kerr tries to whip up the squad and hopefully start a new run by the 2020-21 NBA season.
