Why Warriors’ Anthony Lamb’s NBA contract conversion was an easy decision
Why converting Lamb’s contract to Dubs was an “easy decision” originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
By promoting Anthony Lamb’s NBA status from part-time to full-time Friday, the Warriors knew in advance they were creating some uneasiness and perhaps another wave of anger within the fan base.
They went ahead anyway. After all, they’re making an insane run for the playoffs.
Perhaps the Golden State front office believes Lamb is a good man whose character has been unfairly sullied by salacious allegations from his time at the University of Vermont, which led to an active civil suit against the school.
However, there is no question that after spending the first 70 games of this season under a two-way contract, Lamb’s value has been inflated in recent weeks, first with the continued absence of Andrew Wiggins and now with Andre Iguodala , who is due to have surgery on his left wrist next week.
“Pretty easy decision given that our roster is what it is like without Wiggs, without Andre,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters in Atlanta on Friday. “We definitely needed another wing sized to guard multiple sites.”
Lamb doesn’t have the skills, athleticism or experience to match those of either veteran, but at 6-foot-6, 235 pounds he’s a suitable physical replacement for Wiggins (6-foot-7, 200) and Iguodala ( 6-foot-6, 195).
Lamb was a reliable player off the bench. The combo forward offers muscles, plays hard, usually makes smart decisions within the team concept and shoots = 37.9 percent from distance. Since he’s been on the roster all season, he doesn’t need to be introduced to the playbook like a free agent takeover would.
The contract talk from two-way to Standard means Lamb will receive a generous raise from $509,000 — half the rookie minimum wage — for a full season to about $250,000 for the rest of the season, according to Spotrac.com .
Lamb’s promotion opens up a two-way spot that will go to Lester Quiñones. He will be promoted from the G-League Santa Cruz Warriors and join guard Ty Jerome as the team’s two-way player.
“I’d like to add Ty Jerome as well,” Kerr said. “But we don’t have enough places; we could only choose one. So we chose Lamb because of the position requirements.”
Lamb could scrutinize that decision more closely. He is accused of raping Kendall Ware, a former UVM swimmer, after their six-month relationship ended in 2019. Her civil lawsuit against the school alleges “willful indifference” to “student-to-student harassment and sexual assault.”
Lamb has denied the allegations, is not a defendant in the lawsuit and issued a statement through the Warriors saying he “welcomes any investigation into the matter.”
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The Warriors have said they conducted their due diligence through the NBA and the teams Lamb was previously a member of.
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