The Warriors are staring at a roster question that feels bigger than a standard two-way decision.
Golden State enters the season with close to $90 million in salary on the bench, and that doesn’t even account for the games veterans like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Al Horford are expected to miss. In that kind of setup, every roster spot matters - especially the three two-way slots, where Malevy Leons, LJ Cryer, and Graham Ike could all end up in semi-significant roles at some point this season.
That’s why Leons has become such an obvious flashpoint. If the Warriors were going to dip into the post-roster cut market to upgrade one of those spots, he’d be the easiest name to target.
His preseason didn’t help his case. Across six exhibition games, he put up 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists while shooting 28% from the field.
There were a few encouraging flashes. He appears to understand where to cut in a Curry-led offense, especially along the baseline. But beyond that, it takes some effort to find much upside in keeping him on a two-way deal.
Still, Golden State may not be looking to move on. Steve Kerr made it clear last week that he expects Leons to have real opportunities with the NBA club this season.
Roster note for #Warriors: Steve Kerr made pretty clear today he's expecting Malevy Leons to play a good amount of games up with GS this season.
"I think he can help us win some games, and he’ll also play some games in Santa Cruz. And we’ll see how it goes."
That kind of faith matters in Golden State, where continuity has long been part of the team’s identity. Leons has at least spent time in Kerr’s system, and that may carry more weight than a fresh batch of available options.
Those alternatives are not hard to find. Walter Clayton Jr. and Koby Brea are both out there, and both bring something the Warriors could use.
Brea, whom Golden State traded to the Phoenix Suns in the deal that brought back Will Richard and Alex Toohey, has not yet found consistency from deep, but the shooting upside is still real, along with the chance to become a competent defender. Clayton, meanwhile, likely came free because of Memphis’ roster crunch, and his shooting profile makes him someone who should get an NBA chance somewhere.
Even with those names floating around, the Warriors keep leaning toward familiarity. That’s been true with Gary Payton II coming back this season, and it was true with Pat Spencer sticking around on a two-way for as long as he did.
So for now, the safest read is that Golden State is content to keep Leons in place. Whether that translates into real production at the NBA level is another question entirely.
In Other News...
Warriors May Be Forced Into A Frontcourt Move Sooner Than Expected
Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined by an illness and Charles Bassey dealing with knee tendinitis has left the Warriors with a thinner center rotation than they likely expected this early. For now, Golden State is leaning on Al Horford, whose minutes will be managed, and two-way big man Graham Ike as it tries to keep the middle of the floor covered.
The situation has put a spotlight on a frontcourt group that already looked like a potential pressure point, and it may force the Warriors to move sooner than planned if the shortage lingers. With the season moving along, the team is expected to weigh whether adding more center depth, or even a better option, becomes necessary to stabilize the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Kerrs Jimmy Butler Update Says A Lot About Warriors Ceiling
The Warriors are heading into their 2026-27 opener against the Lakers without Jimmy Butler, and that alone puts an early spotlight on how they navigate the first stretch of the season. Butler is still working back from the torn ACL he suffered a year ago, but Steve Kerrs latest update suggested the veteran wing is moving in the right direction, with Kerr noting that Butler has been doing well and was recently spotted getting in work in the teams weight room.
Kerr also made clear that Butler remains a different kind of presence when he is around the group, which matters for a Warriors team trying to keep its ceiling intact while waiting on his return. The bigger question now is not just when Butler gets back on the floor, but how much his mentality and two-way edge can eventually raise the standard for a team that will be measured from the start by how it handles these early games without him. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Injury Crunch Puts Steve Kerr In A Tough Lakers Decision
Brandin Podziemski has been ruled out for the Warriors game against the Lakers, adding another layer to a rotation that is already being stretched by injuries. Golden State has been dealing with a long list of unavailable or uncertain bodies, with Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, Moses Moody and Charles Bassey all either sidelined or questionable as Steve Kerr tries to patch together a workable lineup.
Will Richard, meanwhile, is suddenly in the conversation again after being out of the mix recently. With so many pieces in flux, the Warriors may need to lean on depth they have not had to trust much lately, and that makes the pregame decisions even more important against a Lakers team that can punish any shortage of available defenders or ball handlers. [Read more 🡒]