Anthony

Lamb

Two-way contract recipients Lamb and Ty Jerome figured more prominently in the Warriors’ rotation than anyone expected before the season began. Both hit the 50-game limit earlier this month, and the Warriors had a decision to make with their open roster spot. Lamb will fill that spot, and it’s possible that Andre Iguodala’s wrist injury and Draymond Green’s one-game suspension factored into him receiving the nod and not Jerome. The two-way contract slot that was filled by Lamb will go to Lester Quinones.

Sunday was an important day for Lamb, as his appearance in the loss to the Lakers moved him to 50 games played on the season. That’s the max allowed for players on two-way contracts, so the Warriors would have to convert his deal to a standard one in order to keep him. Kerr said that Lamb “connects” many of their lineups due to his ability to hit perimeter shots. Lamb played 27 minutes Sunday, finishing with six points, six rebounds, two assists, and two 3-pointers. Also of note here is the return of Andre Iguodala, who logged 14 minutes off the bench and dished out two assists. Neither Iguodala nor Lamb will be impactful from a fantasy standpoint, but those are two versatile pieces that could prove valuable as the Warriors look to repeat as champions.

Jerome had one of the best offensive games of his career Thursday night, with the 20 points being two shy of his season-high. But the Warriors are closing in on decision time for him and Anthony Lamb, who accounted for five rebounds, four assists, and one blocked shot in 24 minutes. Both are on two-way contracts, with Jerome appearing in 37 games and Lamb 44. Two-way contract players are limited to 50 games and aren’t eligible for the postseason without a standard deal. Neither is a great streaming option, even with Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins sidelined.

Both players carry official injury designations related to soreness, but if they’re sidelined, it will be due to rest. Curry sat out January 20 against Cleveland on the second night of a back-to-back set, and Green did too. Klay Thompson is already out due to rest, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Golden State’s entire Big Three is out at Denver. Curry’s absence should mean more work for Donte DiVincenzo and Ty Jerome, while a Green absence would be beneficial for Jonathan Kuminga and Anthony Lamb.

With the Warriors welcoming back the key players who were rested for Friday’s win over the Cavaliers, Lamb is highly unlikely to play the 25 minutes he did in that one. Feel free to leave hin on the waiver wire until the Warriors’ next back-to-back.

Lamb played 25 minutes off the bench in Friday’s win over the Cavaliers, a game the Warriors played without four starters. Even if he’s cleared to play on Sunday, Lamb’s unlikely to get the minutes needed to be a relevant option in fantasy leagues. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green are all off the injury report.

Kuminga participated in a team scrimmage on Wednesday, but he is still not ready to return to game action. That protects Anthony Lamb’s minutes, but he isn’t worth streaming unless the Warriors sit a few of their key players for either end of this upcoming back-to-back. The Warriors visit Cleveland on Friday.