Kerr offers silver lining to Draymond's Warriors suspension...

Kerr offers silver lining to Draymond’s Warriors suspension

has some positive aspects for head coach Steve Kerr.

After hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the head on December 12, the Warriors forward has missed the following four

games. However, Kerr highlighted one benefit of Green’s absence.

“I think there are always silver linings in cases like these where someone is out,” Kerr said Wednesday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard

and Dibs.” “I look back at that year we had the worst record in the NBA.

We had all those injuries. Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson]

out for the year, departures with Kevin Durant and Shaun Livingston. [We] finished with the worst

record in the league but you know what happened? Guys developed.

In addition to a bunch of young players who were made to play despite being forced to cope with hardship and learn about the NBA,

Jordan Poole was thrown into the deep end. … therefore the bright side is always present. Even though we really want Draymond back

and miss him, it will allow other individuals to have more playing time and opportunities.” Green began counseling this week,

according to sources cited by Shams Charania of The Athletic on Monday morning. Green is

anticipated to be out of commission for at

least the next three weeks. Charania further stated, citing league sources who would not discuss specifics of Green’s treatment out of

respect for his privacy, that Green was expected to cooperate with Golden State and the NBA throughout his suspension in addition to

receiving counseling. According to Charania, the 33-year-old has been understanding and is

“prepared to undergo the process required” to rejoin the Warriors.

Since Green’s absence on the floor, players such as Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis have seen their roles increase — and

certainly have impressed. Kuminga is averaging 24.6 minutes over the last four games and contributed 13.5 points on 58.3-percent

shooting from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range, along with five rebounds, 1.3 assists.