Steve Kerr is wasting no time settling one of the Warriors’ biggest questions before training camp even gets rolling: Steph Curry and Draymond Green are starting together.
That part is locked in, even as Golden State heads into a season with plenty still unsettled around the rest of the roster. Kerr told the group exactly where his two franchise pillars stand, while the other three starting spots remain up for grabs over the next few weeks of camp.
“Kerr said Steph and Draymond will start. The other three spots in the starting lineup will be decided over the next few weeks of camp,” The Athletic’s Nick Friedell wrote.
For the Warriors, that certainty matters. Curry and Green are the clearest constants on a roster that spent the offseason searching for answers but never landed the kind of major move it was hoping for. Cap space didn’t really allow it, and the big splash never materialized.
Green’s path back was one of the more notable storylines. He opted out of his contract in an effort to open up room for the team, but when that didn’t lead to anything, he returned on the same deal.
“Draymond Green has agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on a one-year, $27.7 million deal, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. The contract is the same Green opted out of to give the Warriors flexibility to pursue LeBron James, but the sides land his return Tuesday," ESPN Shams Charania wrote.
Curry’s situation got resolved before camp as well. There had been real uncertainty about whether an extension would get done before the season, and the answer ended up being yes.
“Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has agreed to a two-year, $116 million contract extension, tying the franchise legend to the only organization he has ever known through his 20th NBA season, league sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday. The deal includes a player option in the final season (2028-29), according to sources," ESPN's Anthony Slater wrote.
So while the Warriors still have plenty of questions to answer, the two names that define the franchise are already in place. Curry and Green have spent their entire careers together, and they remain the only real known pieces on the roster. Jimmy Butler is the exception among the rest in terms of starting experience, but he is injured.
That leaves Golden State with a familiar anchor and a lot to sort out around it. Curry and Green have won four championships together, and this season will at least begin with them right where the Warriors have leaned on them for years: in the starting lineup.
In Other News...
Warriors May Benefit From The Anthony Davis Situation Getting Messier
The Anthony Davis trade chatter has taken another turn, and it could matter for Golden State as much as anyone. Washington is now reportedly exploring a path that would send Davis to Detroit for restricted free agent Jalen Duren, a framework that speaks to how aggressively the Wizards are trying to move on and how complicated the market has become around the veteran big man.
For the Warriors, the bigger issue is leverage. They were already among the teams linked to Davis as they continue to look for help at center, and the more public Washington makes its willingness to deal him, the harder it may be to command the kind of return that once seemed possible. Golden State still fits the conversation if Davis becomes available in season, but the path to a deal may be getting messier by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Make Draymond Decision That Puts Pressure On This Season
Steve Kerr has made it clear that Draymond Green will stay in the starting five alongside Stephen Curry, a decision that keeps one of Golden States most familiar pairings intact as the team tries to steady its frontcourt. Even with outside chatter about a possible move to the bench, the Warriors are leaning on the chemistry Green and Curry have built over the years, a choice that says plenty about how much the organization still values that connection.
The move also adds another layer of pressure to what is shaping up as a pivotal season for Golden State, because the lineup picture is not entirely settled and health concerns for Kristaps Porzingis could force more shuffling than the Warriors would like. Greens place in the opening group should help define the teams identity early, but it also keeps the spotlight on how the roster performs if the start is uneven, especially with trade speculation already hanging around the situation. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Already Face A Porzingis Problem At Training Camp
The Warriors brought Kristaps Porzingis back on a two-year, $40 million deal with a player option for the second season, betting on his size and versatility to give them a real boost in the middle. But training camp has already opened with a reminder of how fragile that plan can be, as the veteran center is out indefinitely because of a health issue, according to the team and coach Steve Kerr.
Golden State is treating Porzingis situation day to day and is hoping he improves quickly, but the uncertainty leaves the front line in a familiar holding pattern. If he is not ready when the season opens, Al Horford would be the likeliest candidate to step into the starting five, giving the Warriors an experienced fallback while they wait to see whether their new big-man investment can get on the floor. [Read more 🡒]