Warriors waive No. 52 choose Toohey, add Malevy Leons

The Alex Toohey two-way contract experiment is over for the Golden State Warriors. Marc Stein reviews that the staff is signing Malevy Leons to a two-way contract and waiving the No. 52 choose to make room.

Toohey was a promising ahead for the Sydney Kings of the Nationwide Basketball League from 2023-25 who gained the Australian League’s “Subsequent Era” Award final season, given to the league’s greatest participant below the age of 25. The Warriors traded again from No. 41 on draft evening to get the No. 52 and No. 56 picks, which they used on Toohey and Will Richard.

However Toohey has struggled with accidents, taking pictures, and maintaining with the tempo and athleticism of the American recreation. Granted, he was additionally damage, so it’s onerous to guage him too severely. Toohey wants knee surgical procedure which is able to maintain him out for the season, so waiving the 21-year-old Canberran was a straightforward determination. This doesn’t imply Toohey is out of the Dubs’ future plans completely, however there’s no purpose to maintain him on a two-way deal if he can’t play this yr.

As an alternative, they’ll be taking a flyer on Malevy Leons, a 6-foot-9 ahead that they’re poaching from the Oklahoma Metropolis Blue, the G League affiliate of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Leons was a little bit of a late bloomer, transferring to america from the Netherlands at age 21 and successful the Junior School Participant of the Yr in 2021 after main his staff to an undefeated 20-0 season.

Leons then transferred to Bradley College, the place he was the Missouri Valley Convention’s Defensive Participant of the Yr in each 2023 and 2024, at age 23 and 24. He went undrafted, however signed with the Thunder, the place he performed 21 minutes in components of six November video games for the eventual champions. Let’s hope they gave him a hoop!

What does Leons deliver the Warriors? Shot-blocking and taking pictures. He averaged 1.4 per recreation for his school profession and has blocked a shot per recreation in two seasons with the Blue. Leons is averaging 13.8 factors, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals this season, whereas taking pictures 43.8 p.c on 2.7 three-point makes an attempt per recreation. That’s the form of stretch large man that the Warriors have tried to make the most of this season with Al Horford and Quinten Submit. with various levels of success.

Talking of Submit, he’s the one different participant from the Netherlands within the NBA proper now, so maybe they’ll hang around, share some stroopwafels, reminisce about canals, exit to eat and cut up the invoice. You realize, go Dutch.

Leons is 26, a complicated age for an NBA prospect, however Steve Kerr is loads like The Outfield: He likes them a bit of bit older. He’s very cell, dependable on protection, and has a bit of little bit of a submit recreation involving turnaround photographs, however his primary job on offense goes to be setting screens, working the ground, and recognizing up behind the arc. Leons will get a variety of offensive rebounds, one other aspect that’s been lacking from the staff in latest weeks.

Amazingly, Leons could be the second-tallest participant on the roster behind submit, although he and Trayce Jackson-Davis must stand back-to-back to find out this.

Will this be a massively important signing? In all probability not, since he’s a two-way participant. However Leons is an intriguing participant who suits a necessity on this small Warriors roster and must be enjoyable to observe, whereas serving to make the Warriors the preferred NBA staff in Amsterdam.

With Toohey waived, the Warriors have stated goodbye to a second Australian two-way participant, after final yr’s Tasmanian import, Taran Armstrong, left to play in Dubai after allegedly placing on 17 kilos of muscle coaching with the Warriors. Toohey can have loads of time to beef up whereas rehabbing the harm, however for now, we’ll say “Hooroo” to Toohey for the 2025-26 season.