SAN FRANCISCO – It shouldn’t be long before the Warriors have a bigger and more dangerous lob threat than 6-foot-2 guard Gary Payton II.
The condition of 7-foot-1 James Wiseman will be updated early next week and, barring a setback in training, he conceivably could make his first appearance of the season in mid-to-late November.
Though the Warriors have not issued a precise timetable for his return, when Wiseman stepped up his training two weeks ago the team implied a more concrete timetable would be known sometime next week.
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SIGN UP HERE The Warriors are planning, as much as they can, in anticipation of Wiseman’s return.
“Work with him every day,” coach Steve Kerr said Thursday. “Talk to him. Put him in situations that he will be put in when he’s playing. Get him very comfortable with the play calls, with the schemes, get him as much scrimmage time as possible before we throw him out in a real game. All of that will be done.
“But it’s still going to be an adjustment for him. He’s still so young. There will be some growing pains, but we’re really excited.”
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Though Wiseman already has been sprinting and jumping, the next step is to be cleared for scrimmaging. The Warriors are in the early phase in an eight-game homestand, and it’s conceivable that he could participate in scrimmaging before the next road trip, which begins on Nov. 13.
How much scrimmaging will be necessary before Wiseman can be cleared to play? That will be determined by the training staff, Kerr said.
The Warriors have won four of five games without their 20-year-old center, but there have been times when they were hurt by his absence, including Thursday night, when they lost to the rangy and physical Memphis Grizzlies.