Warriors preseason: What we've learned with opener vs. Suns looming

Unlike the NFL preseason or baseball’s spring training, the NBA preseason is informative.

The top players might not be on the court for an entire regular-season shift, but we see enough to know what is and is not working.

That’s because the top players are actually trying in the preseason. They sweat and everything.

It’s a beautiful thing. And while the Warriors’ preseason has been up and down, there has been more good than bad.

With three preseason games in the books, two yet to come, and a season-opening date with the Suns on Oct. 24 looming, here’s what we’ve learned about the Warriors so far this preseason:

Chris Paul had no problem adjusting to the Warriors’ system

You only needed to see one play this preseason to know that any worry about Paul adapting to the Warriors’ way of playing basketball was foolhardy.

It came on Friday in the first quarter of the Warriors’ game with the Lakers in Los Angeles.

Paul took the ball at the top of the key. Wide open, he didn’t shoot — he waited.

And a second later — an eternity on the basketball court — around the bend and a few picks came Steph Curry. Paul hit him with a pass on the right wing, Curry hit the kind of 3-pointer only he can hit, and the Warriors’ star pointed at his new teammate as they ran back up the court.

That was Paul doing his Draymond Green impression. Smart move.

Adapting to the Warriors’ style of play was never going to be an intellectual issue for Paul — he’s one of the smartest players in NBA history.

But in a system that is so reliant on feel, it was fair to wonder how long it would take Paul to get the hang of things.

That assist provided the answer: Not long at all.

And more importantly, his teammates have shown a near-seamless integration with Paul’s style of play. From what we’ve seen so far, it’s a nice blend, and it gives the Warriors a more dynamic offense, something Golden State desperately needed last season.

Credit to Paul and his new teammates for putting in a lot of work this offseason: They hit the ground running in training camp.

Now, there are still questions about Paul’s defense and the lineups the Warriors coaches will use around him, but the big issue — the one that could derail everything — isn’t an issue at all.

And for a Warriors team that cannot afford a slow start, despite significant changes this offseason, that’s a relief.

Jonathan Kuminga’s progression was not a tall tale

Outside of Paul, Kuminga has been the top topic of conversation in Warriors camp so far. His offseason work earned rave reviews from teammates and coaches alike.

Of course, we’ve heard that kind of praise for players before, and it hasn’t been backed up on the court. Everyone “looks great” in an empty gym.

Kuminga, however, seems to be following through on raised expectations.

Everything in the preseason must be taken with a healthy dash of salt. Still, Kuminga has been the Warriors’ most impressive player in the team’s three preseason games, averaging 26 points per game in the three exhibition contests.

Kuminga’s shot creation has been impressive, but the Zion Williamson-like approach to attacking the hoop has him set for success.

Kuminga appears to have developed the ball-handling prowess that will allow him to attack the rim from any spot on the floor. With his athleticism, that makes him downright unstoppable.

You only need to know one stat to know Kuminga has made a leap: He had 17 free-throw attempts against the Kings on Sunday night.

Now, don’t go betting that Kuminga will make the All-Star Game, but becoming a reliable double-digit scorer is necessary for the Warriors this season — there’s a delta of at least 10 points the Warriors need to make up for with the trade of Jordan Poole for Paul. The third-year forward appears poised to provide a nice chunk of that difference.

This team looks deep

The Warriors haven’t been able to run an authentic simulation of a regular-season game yet because of Green’s absence.

But the good news is that there appear to be plenty of viable options for the team’s second unit.

The Warriors have run out Kuminga alongside a no-true-point-guard lineup of Dario Šarić, Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, and Moses Moody in preseason action.

It’s easy to see all five players making a significant impact for the Warriors this year, with Podziemski, in particular, showing outsized promise and a great feel for the game for a rookie.

With Paul running the second unit, there’s promise for the “non-Steph” minutes.

But the roster goes deeper.

Cory Joseph will be the team’s third point guard. He’s a quality NBA player, and this is the right role for him — a few minutes every night, but a chance to play a serious role when the Warriors’ top point guards rest.

Then there’s rookie smallball big Trayce Jackson-Davis, who, more than other rookies, seems poised to provide quality minutes if called upon.

With Rudy Gay likely landing the 14th roster spot, this Warriors team might have viable NBA players from top to bottom. That’s a true rarity in the league these days, and with so many veterans on the team, that depth is likely necessary for the Warriors to be competitive this season.

But hats off to general manager Mike Dunleavy. It’s early returns, but this team appears to be in better shape heading into this year.