The Golden State Warriors entered the 2025 NBA Draft more focused on the trade market rather than the actual draft itself. With rumors swirling around Jonathan Kuminga, and the Warriors having just one pick, it made sense for the front office to be working the trade market. Ultimately, Golden State would select forward Alex Toohey and guard Will Richard after trading their lone selection, the No. 41 pick, for a pair of second rounders later in the draft.
While Toohey and Richard are both lottery tickets the Warriors are taking fliers on, they weren’t the only additions the team made on Thursday night. That’s because after the conclusion of the draft, Golden State went to work on the undrafted free agent market, where they managed to scoop up one of the most sought-after players available.
Warriors Sign L.J. Cryer to Exhibit 10 Contract
Warriors’ general manager Mike Dunleavy went to work after the draft wrapped up, as he signed six undrafted free agents in the frenzy that followed the end of the second round. Among that group of incoming players is former Houston Cougars star L.J. Cryer, who helped lead his squad to the National Championship Game this past season.
Cryer spent the first three years of his collegiate career with the Baylor Bears, winning a championship with them in 2021. He transferred to Houston for his final two seasons, where he starred for the Cougars as one of the top three-point shooters in the nation. In each of his final three seasons, Cryer led his conference in three-point shooting, which included a blistering three-point percentage of 42.4% in the 2024-25 campaign.
Despite that, Cryer wasn’t viewed as a top prospect given that, at 6-foot-1, he’s undersized, even for a guard. Still, Cryer has enough upside that several teams were looking to sign him after the draft. It ended up being the Warriors winning the race, though, as they beat out the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards for his services.
“Former Houston Cougar and All-American guard L.J. Cryer is joining the Golden State Warriors, per source in an Exhibit 10 deal,” Chancellor Johnson reported in a post on X. “Averaged 15.7 points on 42% from deep last season. The Lakers, Raptors and Wizards were also in the mix for one of college basketball’s top shooters.”
Warriors Take a Flier on L.J. Cryer
GettyThe Warriors scooped up former Houston Cougars star L.J. Cryer after he went undrafted
It’s tough for undersized players to succeed in the modern NBA, as they have a massive target on their back on defense. Even though he’s a skilled scorer, the same is true for Cryer, which is largely why there wasn’t much buzz surrounding him ahead of the draft. However, the Warriors, who have a knack for developing lights-out shooters, are taking a chance on him in hopes they can develop his defense over time.
There’s limited risk in signing Cryer considering the circumstances, and he will likely latch on with Golden State’s summer league squad in the near future. Expectations for Cryer are low, but you never know which undrafted free agents will pan out, and the Warriors may have unearthed a diamond in the rough with this deal.
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