The Warriors have already tipped their hand once in the battle next to Stephen Curry, but that doesn’t mean the race is over.
With Kristaps Porzingis absent from training camp, Golden State’s first preseason starting five on Oct. 4 offers the clearest look yet at how the team is thinking early. Curry and Brandin Podziemski are slated to open together in the backcourt, with Yaxel Lendeborg, Draymond Green and Al Horford filling out the front line. For now, that setup points to an emphasis on 3-point shooting and spacing, and it gives Podziemski an early edge over De’Anthony Melton for the starting shooting guard role.
Still, this is far from settled. The Warriors brought in Melton for a reason, and that reason was his defense alongside Curry.
If Podziemski wobbles in preseason or looks unsure with the ball, Golden State could pivot back to Melton quickly. The same goes the other way, too: if Melton shows his shot is back after offseason thumb surgery, he can flip the conversation in a hurry.
That’s why Podziemski’s lead, if it exists at all, feels razor-thin.
There’s a version of this where starting Podziemski makes perfect sense. Late last season, when the rotation was stripped down, he looked much more comfortable.
After moving into the starting lineup in late February, he put up 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while hitting 38% of his 3-pointers. With Porzingis out, that kind of offensive lift would be useful right away.
But Podziemski’s track record also leaves plenty of room for doubt. His play has swung from hot to cold, and his confidence has not always held steady over the course of an 82-game season.
Steve Kerr’s decision will likely hinge on whether Podziemski can carry over what he showed late last year. If he’s knocking down perimeter shots in preseason and handling the ball with conviction, the choice gets easier.
Melton’s finish to last season wasn’t exactly a billboard for the starting job either. Over his final 17 games, he averaged 11.7 points while shooting 38.6% from the field and 28.9% from 3-point range.
But the thumb surgery changes the read on that stretch. If he gets back to something close to Podziemski’s shooting level, his defense could easily become the deciding factor.
And even if Podziemski opens the season in the starting five, Melton isn’t going anywhere. He took another player option on a two-year deal, which means this season is still a chance to boost his value when he hits the market again.
So the Warriors may start with Podziemski, but that doesn’t make the job his. Unless he irons out the inconsistency that’s followed him through his first three seasons, this competition looks very much alive.
In Other News...
Warriors Are Betting On A Draymond Change To Fix A Real Problem
Steve Kerr is tweaking the Warriors offense this season with an eye on a problem that has lingered too long: too many giveaways. The plan includes a five-out look while keeping some of the familiar actions that have defined Golden State for years, and Kerr said the teams turnover issues will be a priority as it tries to clean up possession after possession.
A big part of that adjustment involves Draymond Green, who is being asked to take on a different role in the flow of the offense. The early test comes in a preseason game against the Clippers, where Golden State should offer the first real glimpse of how those changes fit together and whether the new approach can help the Warriors look sharper and more secure with the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Are Testing A Surprise Small Ball Lineup Kerr May Actually Use
The Warriors have been tinkering with their frontcourt at training camp as they sort through options for the season ahead, and the search has reached into some less obvious places. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is getting a look as a small-ball center, and veteran forward Georges Niang has also been part of the conversation, giving Golden State another possible way to play without relying on a traditional big.
Steve Kerr has made it clear the team is trying to find the right combinations rather than force a single solution, especially with defensive effectiveness at the center of the plan. With Draymond Green, Al Horford, Charles Bassey and Graham Ike in the mix, and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined by health concerns, the Warriors have enough moving pieces to keep experimenting - and enough uncertainty that the final frontcourt picture may not come into focus for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Center Plan Is Already Taking Shape For A Complicated Reason
Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined indefinitely because of a health issue has already reshaped how the Warriors are thinking about their frontcourt, and it helps explain why the team moved quickly to bring back Al Horford on a two-year contract. At 40, Horford is not being asked to carry a heavy load, but he could open the season as Golden States center and give the group a steady, familiar option while the staff sorts through the early rotation.
That plan fits into a broader preseason setup Steve Kerr is already mapping out, with Brandon Williams and Georges Niang also in line for defined roles as the Warriors figure out how best to spread minutes around. Horford is expected to contribute in limited bursts, and Kerr has been careful about managing the workload for his veterans as the preseason opener approaches, leaving the shape of the rotation clear even if the long-term answer at center is still taking form. [Read more 🡒]