After 22 straight starts, Quinten Post found himself watching more than playing on Thursday night, logging fewer than six minutes in the Warriors’ 123-115 loss to the Mavericks. It was a telling move by head coach Steve Kerr - one that signals Golden State is still searching for answers in the middle as the trade deadline looms just around the corner.
Let’s be clear: Post’s benching didn’t come out of nowhere. His minutes had already been trending down, and while he’s shown flashes of growth - particularly on the defensive end - the consistency just hasn’t been there.
Against a Dallas frontcourt missing key bigs like Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively III, Post still couldn’t carve out a meaningful role. He finished with just two points on 1-of-3 shooting, and the Warriors were outscored in nearly every stretch he was on the floor.
That’s not the kind of performance you want from your starting center, especially on a team still trying to claw its way back into playoff positioning.
Since stepping into the starting lineup alongside Draymond Green, Post has played more than 20 minutes in only nine of his 22 starts. That’s not a stat that screams trust. And while his defensive effort has improved in Year 2, his offensive impact remains limited - shooting below 35% from beyond the arc, which makes him a tough fit in a system that thrives on spacing and quick decision-making.
Kerr didn’t mince words after the loss, reiterating that Green is still best deployed at center - a nod to the team’s long-standing identity with small-ball lineups. But that raises a bigger issue: if Green is your best option at the five, and Post isn’t ready for prime time, where does that leave the Warriors?
It leaves them with a question that’s becoming harder to avoid: Do they need to find a new starting center before the February 5 trade deadline? And if so, are they willing to make a significant move - possibly even one that involves Green - to get it done?
That’s a complicated conversation, especially when you factor in the other holes on this roster. The Warriors are still trying to fill the void left by the injured Jimmy Butler, and they desperately need someone who can stabilize the offense when Stephen Curry is off the floor. Jonathan Kuminga had been stepping into that role admirably, but now he’s sidelined too, and his unresolved trade request only adds another wrinkle to the team’s already complex situation.
As for Post, he’s in a tough spot. He was given a real opportunity to prove himself as a starter, but hasn’t fully capitalized.
Some of that may be due to Kerr experimenting with new rotations in the wake of the Butler injury. Still, with restricted free agency on the horizon, this isn’t the time for Post to be fading into the background.
The Warriors have never been shy about making bold moves when the moment calls for it. With the deadline fast approaching and the playoff picture tightening, that moment might be now.
Whether it’s finding a new center, a secondary playmaker, or both, something has to give. Because right now, the pieces just aren’t fitting - and time is running out to fix it.