The Golden State Warriors are doing more than just tinkering around the edges of their roster-they’re actively reshaping it. With Pat Spencer reaching the 50-game limit on his two-way contract, the Warriors are expected to promote the 6’2” guard to a standard NBA deal.
But that’s not the only move they’re eyeing. According to multiple league sources, Golden State is also showing serious interest in Lonzo Ball, who just hit the waiver wire after being cut by the Utah Jazz.
Ball, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft, has had a career defined as much by his potential as by the injuries that have derailed it. Most notably, a lingering left knee issue led to three surgeries and sidelined him for two-and-a-half seasons.
After starting the 2025-26 campaign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Ball was traded to the Jazz in a salary dump ahead of the deadline. Utah promptly waived him, making the 28-year-old an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers.
Golden State isn’t the only team in the mix. The Denver Nuggets are also reportedly serious suitors for Ball, and both teams have the roster flexibility to make a move. Each currently carries just 13 players on standard contracts-two shy of the league minimum of 14-and must add a player within the next two weeks.
So why the interest in Ball, especially given his recent struggles? It’s a fair question.
In 35 games with the Cavs this season, Ball averaged a career-low 4.6 points per game while shooting just 30.1% from the field and 27.2% from three. That’s a significant drop from his career averages, particularly from deep, where he’s typically hovered around 35.5%.
But context matters here. Nearly 84% of his shots this season have come from beyond the arc, a heavy diet of threes that may not have suited a player still trying to find his rhythm after such a long layoff.
What Ball did still bring to the table, though, were the intangibles that have always made him intriguing: 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in just under 21 minutes per night. He’s still a smart, instinctive defender and a willing playmaker-two qualities that could fit seamlessly into Golden State’s system, especially if they’re looking to stabilize their second unit or add another ball-handler alongside Stephen Curry.
Meanwhile, Pat Spencer has done more than enough to earn his shot at a full-time roster spot. In Thursday’s dramatic comeback win over the Suns, Spencer stepped up big with Curry out due to a knee injury.
He dropped a team-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 32 minutes. That performance wasn’t just a flash-it was the culmination of a season where Spencer has consistently delivered in limited minutes.
Through 36 games, he’s averaging 5.8 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.2 rebounds while shooting a sharp .423 from the field, a scorching .431 from three, and .833 from the line.
At 29, Spencer isn’t your typical developmental project, but his emergence has been one of the more underrated stories of the Warriors’ season. He’s carved out a role with hustle, efficient shooting, and a knack for making the right play-traits that align perfectly with Golden State’s culture.
So as the Warriors weigh their next moves, they’re looking at both the short-term and the long game. Promoting Spencer rewards performance and continuity.
Pursuing Ball is a bet on upside-a gamble that the former lottery pick can rediscover his form in the right environment. And with roster spots open and time ticking, decisions are coming soon.
Stay tuned. The Warriors aren’t just filling out the bench-they’re trying to find pieces that could matter when the games really count.