It came as a surprise this week when the Golden State Warriors decided not to make forward Juan Toscano-Anderson a qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent and essentially paving the way for his exit from the team. That surprise could be amplified when JTA teams up with the Warriors’ best Western Conference rivals — the Mavericks.
Dallas will likely only consider Toscano-Anderson on a minimum contract, but if he’s looking to join a competitor with game-time opportunity and increase his future contract value, the Mavericks are a team that would make sense for a 3-and-D -Option at Forward.
One problem, however: Toscano-Anderson needs to improve the 3-point part of this equation. He shot just 32.2% off the mark this year after promising quite a bit with the 40.2% he did last year with his 3s.
“He needs to improve some things,” a Western Conference executive told The Current News.com. “He needs some consistency. But the defense will keep him grounded. Jason Kidd loves defense, he’s an Oakland guy too. There’s a lot that makes sense there.”
Of course, it will be difficult for Warriors fans to see JTA moving forward in an opposing uniform as he has won the support of the locals with his frantic and bold style of play. Toscano-Anderson grew up in East Oakland, and his story about a local boy touched many dubs fans. He played at Marquette but was undrafted after four seasons and moved south to begin his pro career.
Toscano-Anderson, who is half-Mexican, played four seasons in Mexico and Venezuela before teaming up with the Warriors’ G-League affiliate in Santa Cruz in 2018 and securing a spot at an on-site tryout. He made his debut for the Warriors in February 2020, just before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He didn’t play much during the Golden State Championship run, only averaging 49 minutes in 14 games, but he still exuded pride after the team defeated Boston in the finals.
“This is a dream come true,” said Toscano-Anderson. “I played abroad, four years in college, all about the city. … I’m at the top level of my job. what will they tell me I don’t care what nobody says to me in life. If you don’t have a ring, don’t talk to me. don’t talk to me I mean dreams come true. … It’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than all of that. It’s about dreams, brother. It doesn’t matter what skin color you have, it doesn’t matter what your background is, it doesn’t matter where you’re from. I’ve been homeless three times in my life, I’ve changed schools five times, I’ve lived in 12 different houses in my life. Like, brother, I shouldn’t be here. It’s just a dream come true.”
For the most part, the Warriors are hoping to keep as much of the championship team together as possible this offseason, which won’t be easy with payroll due to luxury tax spending and big pay rises for two key free agents parts – center Kevon Looney and guard Gary Payton Jr.
Still, things have changed around the Western Conference for Golden State so far, with Warriors semifinalists the Suns, increasingly likely star center DeAndre Ayton and conference finalists Dallas preparing for the departure of Jalen Brunson. will lose.
JTA’s loss will be a blow emotionally, but his impact on the floor has been limited.
