The Warriors’ opener laid bare a problem that’s been nagging them: when the lineup gets thin, the margin for error disappears fast. On Wednesday, Golden State found itself in a spot where only one guard was on the floor for a stretch, and the lack of size showed up in a hurry.
With Brandin Podziemski out because of low back soreness, De’Anthony Melton slid into the starting lineup next to Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Gui Santos and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Steve Kerr also tried to keep Curry and Green aligned on their substitution patterns so the two could share the floor as much as possible.
Once they sat, the Warriors went as big as they could, with Brandon Williams as the lone guard alongside Al Horford, Georges Niang, Santos and Lendeborg. Even then, the group was “too small and unathletic enough to keep the Lakers in check,” California Post’s Evan Webeck wrote.
That kind of outing is exactly why fans are already pushing for help. But Kerr has made it clear he isn’t interested in chasing another title by gutting the future.
“Do we throw away our entire future to build around a 39-year-old Steph? He turns 39 in March, right?
Does it make sense now to throw away all those picks? H*ll no,” Kerr said.
Still, not every upgrade has to come with a massive long-term cost. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn floated a more measured swing: Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett.
“He's on an expiring contract, and the Raptors simply need other things more than his individual scoring. If they can use his salary to beef up their guard rotation or add a dead-eye shooter, that probably makes them a better team.
Someone with the financial flexibility to extend him and a real need for a spare creator. Golden State comes to mind if the Warriors miss on their bigger-name targets,” Quinn wrote.
Barrett’s appeal is obvious for a roster that could use more size. He’s a big, physical guard who can also play forward, and that gives Golden State a different kind of piece than the smaller options it’s been forced to juggle. He’d also give Curry another scorer to work with and could strengthen the second unit when the star point guard sits.
Barrett is well liked in Toronto, but from Golden State’s side, he looks like the type of fit worth serious consideration if the Warriors want to add more sturdiness without blowing up their future.
In Other News...
Warriors Center Search Suddenly Has A More Realistic Trade Path
The Warriors search for a starting center has started to feel more grounded, and Wendell Carter Jr. is a name that keeps making sense on paper. Golden State has been looking for frontcourt help, and Carter fits the kind of player the team has long evaluated as a possible trade fit. His contract structure also gives this idea a realistic lane, especially with Orlando having to weigh its own financial picture while trying to stay in the playoff mix.
Carter has already been on Golden States radar before, and his recent strong showing against the Hawks only adds to the appeal. The challenge, of course, is that the Magic are not in a hurry to strip down a roster that is trying to win now, which keeps any deal from being straightforward. Still, for a Warriors team that has been exploring center options, this is one of the few paths that looks plausible enough to keep watching. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors-Grizzlies Just Got More Personal Between Yaxel Lendeborg And Cam Boozer
The summer league chatter around Yaxel Lendeborg has already given the Warriors-Grizzlies track a little extra edge, even before the games really start to matter. Lendeborg made his feelings known publicly after saying he lost respect for Luka Doncic, and he also had comments directed at Cameron Boozer and Memphis that only added to the noise. With both players regarded as top rookies and producing similar numbers so far, it is easy to see why this has started to feel like more than just a passing exchange.
For Golden State fans, the intrigue is in how quickly a normal matchup can turn into a personal one when young players start keeping score in public. The upcoming meetings should be competitive anyway, but the dynamic between Lendeborg and Boozer now gives those games a little more bite, especially with Boozer still not having answered back. Whether that silence holds or the rivalry finally spills onto the court, this is the kind of subplot that can make a summer league game feel a lot bigger than the standings suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors' Al Horford Fit Is Already Raising Serious Questions
Al Horfords arrival was supposed to give the Warriors a steady, veteran presence in the middle, the kind of low-drama addition that can help smooth over a roster built around stars and movement. Instead, the early return has only sharpened the questions around how he fits, especially after Golden State dropped its season opener to the Lakers and had to deal with the added complication of Kristaps Porzingis being out.
Horford signed a two-year deal at 40 and chose to stay with Golden State despite a first season that was interrupted by injuries, but the broader picture is already murkier than the Warriors likely hoped. With the team still searching for traction, theres growing talk that Horford could become a name to watch before the mid-season deadline if a contender comes calling for a backup center. [Read more 🡒]