Warriors ‘thrilled’ with Damian Jones’ progress in D-League – SFGate – SFGate (blog)

Photo: Courtesy Of Santa Cruz Warriors

Damian Jones plays with Santa Cruz on Jan. 6, chipping in 13 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in a 126-124 loss to Grand Rapids.

Damian Jones plays with Santa Cruz on Jan. 6, chipping in 13 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in a 126-124 loss to Grand Rapids.

Golden State Warriors center Damian Jones (15) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 13, 201, in Denver. The Nuggets won 132-110. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Golden State Warriors center Damian Jones (15) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 13, 201, in Denver. The Nuggets won 132-110. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Warriors thrilled with Damian Jones progress in D-League

Overshadowed by the Warriors 10-game winning streak is the fact that their roster could look much different next season.

Nine of Golden States 15 players will be free agents this summer, including almost its entire frontcourt. The only center signed beyond this season? Rookie Damian Jones, who has made significant strides in recent weeks with the Warriors Development-League affiliate in Santa Cruz.

After topping the 13-point mark only once in his first 20 games with Santa Cruz, Jones has averaged 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks over his past 11. Two of his best performances came within the past two weeks: a 23-point, 12-rebound, four-block outing March 23 against Austin, and a 25-point, seven-rebound, five-block masterpiece Friday against Los Angeles.

Were thrilled with Damians progression, said Kerr, who has recently watched video from Jones latest D-League stint. Its the whole point of the D-League, to be able to send a guy like Damian down. Hes not going to play a lot for us, but he can get consistent minutes.

Jones, 21, has logged nine D-League assignments since returning from a torn right pectoral muscle in late-November. His development goals have been modest: give consistent effort, attack the glass and grasp the spacing necessary to become a reliable interior defender. In recent months, Jones has cut down on fouls and emerged as a dominant two-way player in the D-League.

The plan is for him to stick with Santa Cruz through the D-League playoffs, which begin Wednesday against Oklahoma City. Kerr said Jones, who is averaging 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in nine NBA games, could be recalled to Golden State for a game or two during that span if possible.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron

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Warriors 'thrilled' with Damian Jones' progress in D-League - SFGate - SFGate (blog)