NBA Rumors: Golden State Warriors Planning To Keep Young Center

KEY POINTS

Golden State Warriors view Marquese Chriss as "a potential franchise building block"
Chriss has not lived up to his billing in four seasons so far in the NBA
Chriss has tallied career-best numbers in rebounds and field goal shooting in his first season with the Warriors

The rebuild process in Golden State will be placed under the microscope starting from the upcoming NBA Draft where they are expected to pick early, if not with the No.1 selection. And as the franchise starts to survey at promising long-term assets in its roster, a plan to keep young big man Marquese Chriss is strongly being considered.

Chriss was a highly touted prospect heading to the 2016 NBA Draft. But with four seasons already in the books, the 22-year-old has not quite lived up to the expectations.

His career averages so far are 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 45.6% field goal shooting in four different teams, including Golden State where he tallied 9.3 points, 6.2 boards, 1.9 assists on a career-best 54.5% shooting clip in 59 games this season.

But despite the underwhelming career jumpstart, the 6’9 youngster has gained confidence from the Warriors, who believe his true potential is yet to be unleashed.

The Bay Area squad has tagged him as "a potential franchise building block," according to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, as reported on Bleacher Report.

"The front office is so optimistic about his future, according to multiple sources, that it would be comfortable entering next season with him as the starting center," Letourneau wrote.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are still expected to run the show in the Bay Area for a couple more years, but Chriss getting more exposure on Steve Kerr’s playbook as a starter could be the new norm for the Dubs.

“If Chriss continues to improve and the Warriors opt to sign him to a long-term deal and make him part of their core, perhaps it will be a decision that pays dividends for both him and the team,” BR’s Jake Rill wrote. “So, it will be intriguing to watch how he might perform with increased opportunities next season while trying to prove himself as a starter for Golden State.”

Chriss was selected eighth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns where he spent his first two seasons and averaged 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 82 games, including 75 starting nods.