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The Golden State Warriors Summer League team failed to defend their title in Las Vegas, but they easily played in some of the more exciting games of the tournament. Coach Steve Kerr was able to gain some valuable experience on the sidelines and overall the team played well and some players showed some promise.

The Warriors were impressed with a few players from their Summer League roster and have decided to sign three of them of to the roster: James Michael McAdoo, Aaron Craft, and Mitchell Watt. The details have not been released, but it’s likely they will all receive non-guaranteed deals. Once the season begins, the Warriors can only have 13 players on the roster, so they will be fighting for one of the final roster spots.

All three players showed potential this summer is Las Vegas and did enough to impress Warriors management. McAdoo saw a lot of minutes and his athleticism is something you can’t miss. At 6-foot-9, he can play multiple positions and has the ability to bring the house down with his dunking ability. McAdoo has the highest ceiling out of the three players, so the Warriors could help develop his game. Craft was one of Coach Kerr’s favorite players, he loved his tenacity and his ability to be a floor general. Craft has been criticized for his outside shooting, but Coach Kerr doesn’t believe that’s an issue. Watt has a lot of energy around the rim and his size helps him be an effective rebounder.

While all three will not make the final roster, they could still become part of the Warriors D-League Team, the Santa Cruz Warriors. They’ll get an opportunity to prove their worth during training camp and their young legs should be welcomed with open arms.

Here is the press release from the Warriors:

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard Aaron Craft, along with free agent forwards James Michael McAdoo and Mitchell Watt to contracts, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not released. All three rookies played for the Warriors at the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Craft, 23, played four seasons collegiately at Ohio State, where he earned the NABC and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards this past season as a senior. The 6’2” guard amassed career averages of 8.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 148 games (second most in school history) and was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team in each of his four seasons. With the Warriors Summer League squad, the Findlay, OH, native averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.60 steals and 22.2 minutes off the bench over five games. He led the team in assists and steals during the Summer League.

McAdoo, 21, played three seasons at the University of North Carolina, amassing career averages of 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.22 steals in 24.9 minutes over 108 games. Last season, as a junior, the 6’9” forward earned Second Team All-ACC honors after averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.32 steals in 34 contests. In five games with the Warriors Summer League team (all starts), the Norfolk, VA, native averaged 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.00 steal and 1.20 blocks in a team-leading 29.0 minutes per game. McAdoo’s father, Ronnie, is a member of Old Dominion University’s Hall of Fame and played professionally in France, Spain and Japan.

Watt, 24, has played professionally the last two seasons in Israel, averaging 13.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 blocks in 34 games last season with Ironi Nes Ziona. Prior to making his professional debut with Galil Gilboa in 2012-13, Watt played collegiately for four seasons at the University of Buffalo. As a senior in 2011-12, the 6’10” forward averaged 16.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 blocks over 31 games en route to earning MAC Player of the Year honors and All-MAC First Team recognition.

Craft will wear uniform #2, McAdoo #20 and Watt #21. The Warriors roster currently stands at 16 players.

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