The Warriors’ carefully built center plan is already looking shaky, and Kristaps Porzingis is the reason why.
Golden State spent the offseason trying to keep its veteran big men fresh, with the idea that splitting duties between Porzingis and Al Horford would help avoid overloading either player. On paper, it made sense. In practice, the setup only works if both guys are available - and right now, Porzingis’ status is the cloud hanging over everything.
Porzingis met with the team’s medical staff on Tuesday, which at least points in the right direction. But there’s still no clear timeline for when he’ll be back on the floor, and that uncertainty is what’s throwing the Warriors’ plans off track.
According to the latest episode of the Dubs Talk podcast, the original idea with Horford was straightforward: bring him off the bench every game, keep him out of back-to-backs, and hold him to around 20 minutes a night. That arrangement would help make sure either Horford or Draymond Green is anchoring the defense at all times.
That’s a clean blueprint when the roster is intact. But Porzingis’ absence changes the math fast. If he can’t play, Horford may be asked to carry more than the Warriors intended.
That comes with its own risk. Pushing Horford harder at this point in his career is a dangerous game, and it could leave Golden State vulnerable to losing him too. If that happens, the team may need younger options like Charles Bassey to absorb some of the minutes Porzingis would have handled.
There’s also the fallback of going smaller, something the Warriors have leaned on in recent seasons. That would likely mean using Green at center again and asking him to be the big man on the floor. But with Steve Kerr also looking to use Green in new ways on offense this season, it doesn’t sound like Golden State is eager to default to the old setup.
However it shakes out, the Porzingis situation complicates the whole operation. The Warriors’ new five-out offense was built around having a stretch big who can knock down threes, and Porzingis was central to that idea. Without him, the design loses a key piece and the rest of the rotation has to adjust.
Horford doesn’t need to be used like he was five years ago. But if injuries force the issue, Golden State may not have much choice but to lean harder on the 20-year veteran and hope he can handle the extra load.
In Other News...
Warriors Suddenly Have A Yaxel Lendeborg Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Warriors got a scare in their preseason win over the Lakers when Yaxel Lendeborg turned his ankle, a moment that briefly put a spotlight on one of the more intriguing parts of their early lineup plans. He did return to the game for a short stretch, and afterward he downplayed the issue, calling it not severe and sounding upbeat about where he stands heading into the next stage of camp.
Still, it is the kind of injury moment Golden State cannot afford to brush aside, especially with the team weighing whether Lendeborg could start and trying to manage other banged-up players as the regular season approaches. Preseason results matter less than availability this time of year, and the Warriors will be watching closely to see whether the ankle shows any lingering effect as they keep sorting out the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Made A Tough Roster Call Fans Will Debate
The Warriors made a notable tweak to their roster mix, waiving guard Miles Kelly and signing free agent forward Tyler Burton, according to an official team statement. Kelly had turned in a strong preseason, which makes the decision a little harder to ignore, but Golden State opted to open a spot for a different kind of look as it continues sorting through the edges of the roster.
Burton arrives with some recent NBA experience after previously spending time with the Memphis Grizzlies on 10-day contracts, and hell get a chance to compete for a place with the Warriors in mid-October. For a team still shaping its final group, the move is another reminder that preseason production does not always guarantee a lasting seat at the table. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Created An Early Center Battle Fans Did Not Expect
Draymond Green sitting out the preseason game against the Lakers opened a small window into something the Warriors may not have fully planned for when camp began. Charles Bassey got the start at center over Al Horford, and it was hard not to notice the way the younger big has been pushing himself into the conversation after a strong preseason run compared with Horford and Graham Ike.
Bassey signed a partially guaranteed one-year deal, so nothing about his roster spot or role is locked in yet, but his defensive value matters more now with Kristaps Porzingis unavailable indefinitely. For a team still sorting out its frontcourt rotation, the early signs suggest this center competition may be more open than expected, and Bassey has done enough to make the Warriors keep looking his way. [Read more 🡒]