Warriors Work Out Former First-Round Pick, Olympics Star Bruno Caboclo

Former NBA journeyman power forward Bruno Caboclo is working out with the 2022 league champs this week, and aiming for a potential comeback.

“He will train with the Golden State Warriors until Thursday with the aim of a contract, and he believes he will succeed,” Hazan informed Noa Poplinger of Sports Channel, according to Basket News.

In addition to Golden State, Caboclo is also eyeing Israeli team Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv.

“We are in negotiations [with Tel Aviv], we are making good progress. It’s definitely an option worth keeping,” Hazan said.

The 6-foot-9 big man was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the No. 20 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. On the broadcast, the raw power forward/center was unforgettably called “two years away from being two years away” by ESPN commentator Fran Fraschilla.

Caboclo suited up for the Raptors from 2014-18, the Sacramento Kings in 2018, the Memphis Grizzlies from 2019-20, and the Houston Rockets from 2020-21. Across 105 regular season games (20 starts), he posted averages of 4.2 points on 40.3 percent shooting from the field, 2.6 boards, 0.7 dimes and 0.6 blocks a night.

In 2023-24, the 28-year-old suited up for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade of Serbia. He logged averages of 9.4 points and 4.0 boards across 27 EuroLeague contests. While playing for his native Brazil in this year’s Paris Olympics, Caboclo finally made good on Frischilla’s promise. He averaged 17.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 swipes and 0.8 rejections across his four contests in competition.

During Brazil’s quarterfinal bout against a star-studded Team USA (the eventual gold medalists, led by tournament MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers), Caboclo scored 30 points on 13-of-20 field goal shooting (2-for-6 from beyond the line) and 2-of-3 free throw shooting, along with six rebounds, one assist, a steal, and a block.

After finishing with a 46-36 record but missing out on the Western Conference playoffs last season, the Warriors underwent some massive cosmetic changes over the summer. Most notably, former five-time All-Star swingman Klay Thompson departed the only team he’s ever known. The 6-foot-6 Washington State product departed for the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade deal.

Read More: Warriors News: Klay Thompson Breaks Silence on Exit From Golden State

The Warriors opted to replace Thompson piecemeal. Golden State brought in former Philadelphia 76ers guards Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton, along with ex-Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson.

Golden State had also been said to be in the trade hunt for Utah Jazz All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, but he instead inked a five-season, $238 million extension to stay in Utah.

Read More: Lauri Markkanen Reveals Why He Signed Massive Extension With Jazz

Probably most crucially for the Warriors, All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry is inking a $62.6 million one-year contract extension with the team, and will remain under Warriors control through the 2026-27 season.

Read More: Stephen Curry Signing Massive Extension with Warriors

Curry, his Team USA head coach Steve Kerr, and former four-time All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green remain from Golden State’s championship core. Former All-Star Andrew Wiggins is still rostered, though his contract has become a bit of an albatross. Intriguing young wing Jonathan Kuminga and All-Rookie guard Brandin Podziemski could enjoy considerably more outsized roles in the team’s offense for 2024-25.

Even if Caboclo does return to the league with Golden State, he’ll be hard-pressed to earn major frontcourt minutes alongside Green, Kevon Looney and Trayce Jackson-Davis.