However, the Warriors may have also chosen to replace the vacuum with a less expensive player from the bottom of the roster, as Killian Tillie, a forgotten big man from the Memphis Grizzlies, was apparently a target.
Killian Tillie, who hasn’t participated in an NBA game since March 2022, is thought to have a lifeline from the Golden State Warriors.
Tillie averaged 3.2 points in 11.9 minutes per game while playing 54 games for the Grizzlies over the course of two seasons. However, Tillie was waived by Memphis prior to the following season after a back injury ended his 2021–22 campaign, and he hasn’t been seen at the NBA level since.
The 26-year-old is currently targeting a comeback to the NBA after regaining his health, and he will begin by suiting up for the Boston Celtics in the just concluded Summer League. In 17.2 minutes, Tillie averaged 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and a block while making an amazing 41.2% of his field goals on 3.4 attempts a game.
According to a recent interview with Theo Lawson of The Spokesman Review, “the 6-foot-9 forward had a number of feelers, with strong interest coming from the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors in particular.”
Given that Golden State has now added 14 players with full contracts and three players on two-way contracts to its roster, it appears that interest may have existed before to Summer League. Both financial resources and roster seats are scarce, though Tillie may reappear if circumstances warrant it.
During his four years of college at Gonzaga, the Frenchman demonstrated that he was an effective three-point shooter for his size, making 44.4% of his 2.2 attempts from beyond the arc. During his time with the Grizzlies, he shot 31.1% on similar average attempts, but it didn’t quite translate. The Warriors have addressed their need for front court shooting to some extent by selecting Dutch big man Quinten Post with the 52nd overall choice, but Markkanen would be the ultimate answer. The seven-footer’s final two seasons at Boston College saw him shoot 42.6% and 43.1%.