Mailbag: How can Warriors keep Ky Bowman? Could they bring back Harrison Barnes?

Plus: Willie Cauley-Stein is better than he looks on the defensive end.

Thanks as always to everyone who submitted questions. You can send questions for future mailbags to wgoldberg@bayareanewsgroup.com or on Twitter to @wcgoldberg.

Q: In the beginning of the season, the discussion was always about the depth of big men or the wings, but now we only have Ky Bowman as our true healthy point guard. I can’t even think of a question, we’re so injured, but it’s fun to watch these young players develop from game to game. – @GSW_Poole_Party

Since you can’t think of a question, I’ll think of one for you: how can the Warriors keep Ky Bowman?

Having so far spent 24 days in the NBA, Bowman is on pace to reach the 45-day limit of his two-way contract in January. The rest of his season would have to be spent with the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz — which doesn’t do Golden State any good. Bowman will be an important contributor as long as Stephen Curry is out.

As Steve Kerr said recently: “I want to keep him. I think we feel really strongly about that.”

So how can they? A few options.

They can waive the non-guaranteed contract of Marquese Chriss before it becomes guaranteed on Jan. 10, right around the time Bowman will use up his eligibility. However, Chriss has played well as of late and, at 22 years old, may still figure into the Warriors’ long-term plans. After all, Chriss is a good passer, who thrived next to a healthy Curry in the preseason. This is not the ideal solution.

The other option is to trade a player on a minimum contract to another team. Alec Burks seems like the most logical candidate. A 28-year-old bench scorer currently averaging a career high in points is the sort of player who could help a contender, and probably bring an asset back.

If the Warriors don’t go in either of those directions, they could stash Bowman in Santa Cruz until March, when they will have enough room below the hard cap (about $400,000) to sign Bowman to a prorated minimum salary into the open 15th roster spot. However, the Warriors will need Bowman between January and February more than in March, when Curry could potentially make his return.

Bowman, 22, has shown enough to warrant a roster spot as a backup point guard. The Warriors are motivated to keep him.

[Why Warriors coach Steve Kerr wants to keep two-way player Ky Bowman]

Q: How much longer can we stomach Willie Cauley-Stein’s atrocious defense? – Lex

It’s important to remember that Willie Cauley-Stein is still working his way into peak playing condition after sitting out all of training camp and the preseason with a foot injury. That said, the Warriors’ defense has actually performed marginally better with Cauley-Stein on the court.

Has he been out of position several times defensively? Yes. He’s also being asked more than ever to switch and guard on the perimeter.

When he’s near the rim, Cauley-Stein has been more helpful. Opponents are shooting nearly 10% worse than their average when guarded by Cauley-Stein within 6 feet of the rim. The Warriors have a lot of problems defensively, but Cauley-Stein isn’t the biggest issue.

Q: Would it be feasible to bring back Harrison Barnes or someone similar on the wing using the Andre Iguodala trade exception? He fits the system and is overpaid, so Sacramento might be looking to just get off his contract. – JCooke

The Warriors created a $17.2 million trade exception when they traded Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies. That exception can be used to acquire salaries without having to send out salaries to match.

Because the Warriors are hard capped, they won’t be able to use the exception until after the season, but it has a 365-day expiration from the day of the trade. It could be used, then, to absorb a salary at the beginning of next July.

To your question, Barnes makes $7 million more than what the Warriors can absorb. A few players who could make sense for the Warriors include Spurs forward Rudy Gay, Kings forward Trevor Ariza and Pistons swingman Tony Snell, among others.