What will Usman Garuba find in the Warriors?

“With all due respect, at no time did I consider returning,” he said.. And his wishes were fulfilled. Usman Garuba signs for the Warriors and there is no more striking headline. This Tuesday the official news was still sent on the website of the franchise that has won four of the last nine rings (in addition to two runners-up), that has Steph Curry or Klay Thompson on its roster and that has been reinforced with Chris Paul. That spends more than anyone on salaries (more than 209 million dollars), that has Steve Kerr on the bench and the most attractive basketball in the entire NBA. A Spaniard went there for the first time (José Calderón signed for the San Francisco team, although he never debuted), although with an asterisk.

Because Garuba, 21 years old, has signed for the Warriors, yes, with the Golden State and with the Santa Cruz. A dual contract (two way), shared with the affiliated team that competes in the G-League and that Kerr also coaches, but his son Nick. His salary of $508,891 does not count towards the NBA franchise and has some limitations: he cannot play more than 50 games in the 'first team' and does not allow him to play in the playoffs.

So much for the bad news. Because the outlook continues to be hopeful for the Spanish international. Firstly, because his priority of continuing to explore the NBA route is fulfilled, the competition he entered three seasons ago and in which he did not have enough opportunities in the Rockets.. After a summer of up to three transfers to finally be cut by the Thunder (they paid him the more than two million dollars that he was going to receive this year), he was free, no NBA team claimed him for their squads and rumors about him skyrocketed. return to a Real Madrid that maintains its rights in Europe.

Finally, as EL MUNDO reported, Garuba accepted one of the several two-way proposals that he had on the table and that he evaluated during the World Cup dispute.. He remained firm in his intentions, announced without embarrassment on social networks: “I will prove everyone wrong.”. Remember these words ». And he has ended up in none other than the Warriors, a team that had him under their radar for a long time and in which the outlook, for many reasons, can be very favorable for his characteristics.

As highlighted on the Californian franchise's own website, Usman's mirror has long been Draymond Green.. A fierce, versatile guy, not too tall, decisive defensively, with enormous passing ability and speed to adapt to the frenetic game that Steve Kerr proposes and Curry executes. “I really like watching Draymond. There are tons of clips of it on my iPad. I learn a lot from him: how he plays defensively. Also the way he communicates with his teammates and his leadership on the field.. It makes everything easier for the Warriors,” the Spaniard said some time ago on Hooshype.

Because the Warriors, who finally declined to reinforce themselves with the very veteran Dwigt Howard, do not have giant centers and there Usman can find a huge loophole. Only three interior players leave under Kerr's orders, Green himself, starter Kevon Looney and rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis. The tallest player on the squad is Dario Saric (2.08), a power forward with a clear tendency to the perimeter. “We have several players who can play as '5' and we want Garuba to play. We want the players to have minutes and games to be able to evaluate talent,” warned the new General Manager, Mike Dunleavy.

The Athletic also optimistically assesses the arrival of a Garuba who, after the World Cup, has not stopped preparing, with exhausting individual sessions in his native Azuqueca de Henares.. “A piece of depth and great potential,” they warn.