Editor's note: This article is part of an ongoing series in which Monte Poole will highlight a different Warriors player every day leading up to the start of training camp.
Player: Leandro Barbosa
Position: Shooting guard
Age: 32
Salary: $2.5 million, one-year contract signed in July
2014-15 in review: Barbosa had his ups and downs in his first season with the Warriors, but was an overall positive.
The 6-3 Brazilian was acquired prior to last season partly because of his familiarity with the offensive system being run by coach Steve Kerr and offensive coordinator Alvin Gentry. Barbosa was a good fit as a reserve, certainly in the locker room but also in the team’s transition offense. He proved capable of carrying the offense for brief stretches.
There were other times when LB’s jump shot was MIA. Though the Warriors would like to see more consistency in his shot, they came to fully understand his value.
2015-16 outlook: Though Barbosa will face some competition, he enters training camp with a relatively solid grip on the fourth guard spot, behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and Shaun Livingston. Ideally, though, he would be the team’s fifth guard, a wily veteran capable of igniting offense.
Entering his 13th NBA season, Barbosa no longer can be counted on for heavy minutes. That Barbosa signed a one-year contract is an indication that his NBA days are creeping to an end. Rarely will the Warriors extend him beyond 12 minutes in any game and there will be nights when he won’t play at all.
