https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/steve-kerr-knows-warriors-have-tough-anthony-lamb-ty-jerome-decisions

Kerr, Warriors know tough decisions loom with two-way deals

5H ago
by Dalton Johnson

SAN FRANCISCO -- Time is ticking for the Warriors. Not so much on the
regular season or even the standings. While being idle Friday night,
Golden State moved all the way up to No. 6 in the Western Conference
standings before their Saturday night matchup with the Orlando Magic.
This doesn't even have to do with the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline.

It's all about two surprising contributors off two-way contracts in
forward Anthony Lamb and guard Ty Jerome.

Due to injuries and lack of experience from the Warriors' young bench,
Steve Kerr has turned to Lamb and Jerome more than anyone could have
expected. And the two have delivered. But Kerr knows some unfortunate,
and somewhat unfair, changes are going to have to be made.

"Yeah, it's something we're going to have to address here soon," Kerr
said Friday at Warriors practice.

Two weeks before the 2022-23 regular season began, the Warriors signed
Jerome to a two-way contract and did the same with Lamb one day later.
They viewed Jerome as a veteran guard with a winning past who could
easily fit in and give quality minutes when needed. Lamb actually first
impressed Kerr in the G League when he was scouting a Santa Cruz game.
Lamb was lighting up the Warriors' G League affiliate from 3-point range
and with his hustle on defense.

Both have fulfilled those roles beyond what Kerr and the Warriors
envisioned. However, there are rules with two-way contracts. Better
said, there are restrictions.

A player signed to a two-way contract is permitted to being on a team's
active list for no more than 50 games during the regular season and
cannot appear in playoff games. That means even if Lamb or Jerome is
suited up for a game and doesn't see the court, it still counts against
the limit.

Lamb already has played in 31 games this season, and Jerome has appeared
in 23. Jerome also has two games where he was active but didn't play,
putting his number at 25. To put everything into perspective, the
Warriors have played 39 games this season and still have another 43 to go.

"We have to navigate that," Kerr said. "There will be some games where
those guys will not suit up."

Andre Iguodala making his season debut Saturday against the Magic should
help make life easier for Kerr. The same goes with Andrew Wiggins'
impending return. Wiggins has missed the Warriors' last 15 game to an
adductor strain and two illnesses, but is listed as probable on the
Warriors' injury report after practicing with the team the day prior.

But Lamb's importance right now is hard to ignore. He was the first
player off the bench in Wednesday's buzzer-beating loss to the Detroit
Pistons, scored nine points off the bench in the first quarter and
finished with 17. With Wiggins and Iguodala out, plus Jonathan Kuminga
currently being in a walking boot with a right foot sprain, there's no
way Kerr could keep Lamb stuck to the sidelines.

He was active for only one of the Warriors' first seven games. Lamb then
was inactive for the next two before playing 30 straight, starting three
and shooting 39.4 percent from deep.

"I think with his confidence," Iguodala said Friday when asked what has
impressed him most about Lamb. "I don't think people understand how
important your -- you have to have a high level of confidence, but at
the same time some humility with your confidence, especially with who
you are.

"There's only one or two guys per team that they can do whatever they
want. There's no real sacrifice. Everyone else has to fit a role. It's a
less is more mentality, and I think he's done a really good job and
really good balance. He's always shot the ball really well. I don't
think anyone knew he shot the ball this well. But he continues to work
every day, he's here early and he's here late and guys like him -- Moses
Moody is the same way, just the way they carry themselves.

"It says a lot about the culture, just with them looking for guys like
that who will make the most of their time here and even extend their
time because of their work ethics."

Jerome led the bench with 18 points in Wednesday night's loss. He's
never in a rush, can knock down 3-pointers, get in the lane for floaters
and has exceeded outside expectations with his defense.

His season has seen him be inactive for the first three games, followed
by playing the next eight and being in and out sporadically. Everything
changed when Steph Curry went down to a left shoulder subluxation. Kerr
knew the Warriors needed Jerome now more than ever.

Since Curry went down, Jerome has played 11 straight games. Over that
span, he has averaged 10.1 points, 3.2 assists and 2.4 rebounds on 21.9
minutes per game while also shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 41.2
percent from beyond the arc and 92.9 percent at the free-throw line.

To Curry, none of this is a surprise. Curry has played against Jerome
since the 25-year-old guard entered the league in 2019, and could see
he's a winning player. He just needed a winning situation.

"It's an interesting dynamic," Curry said Friday. "I used to play
against him in OKC. You knew he knew how to play, has a high IQ. He was
just looking for an opportunity to be in a winning organization in the
sense of I have an opportunity to impact that. Who would have known it
would be from a two-way position and he'd have an opportunity to come in
a play big minutes with the injuries we've had and all that.

"But even early in the season when we were quote unquote fully healthy,
him and A. Lamb were getting some cracks at it in terms of the rotation.
He's just a gamer. He's a guy that demonstrated that in college, battle
tested and you find a way to show that at every level. It's been awesome
to watch."

The Warriors are getting Wiggins and Iguodala back in the immediate
future. Curry is up next, as soon as Jan. 13 against the San Antonio
Spurs at the Alamodome. Those three being back in uniform will make life
easier for Kerr, but put Lamb and Jerome in underserved positions.

Then there's the Warriors' 15th and final roster spot. Right now, it's
open and there for the taking. Lamb or Jerome might snatch it. The
Warriors also could use it for the buyout market or simply keep it open
to save money.

No matter what happens next, it's hard to imagine the Warriors without
Lamb and Jerome at this point of the season. It's equally as easy to see
them contributing to a playoff win. That can't happen, though. Rules are
rules, however unfair they seem to be.

Golden State once again has players who have gone past any kind of
preseason predictions, and will have to face the harsh realities of that
luxury.