The Warriors’ push to bring back Al Horford makes a lot more sense with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined indefinitely.
That’s the health backdrop Monte Poole points to as he explains why Golden State moved quickly to land Horford for his 20th NBA season. Horford signed a new two-year deal in June, and while the Warriors can’t expect heavy minutes from a 40-year-old, he stands alone on the roster as the other center with real experience.
Horford also made clear he understands the situation surrounding Porziņgis. “He wants to compete, and he wants to be out on the court,” Horford said.
“It’s just for him to be patient at this point. He’s usually been able to overcome things, but patience is kind of like the name of the game right now.
I don’t know if we saw this coming entirely. So, I just hope that he’s able to recover and be in a good place so he can roll with us.”
There’s also a real chance Horford could open the season in the starting lineup, just months after he and his family weighed whether he should keep playing. His 36.1% mark from deep last season fits neatly into Steve Kerr’s five-out system, where floor spacing matters across the board. Horford said he’s looking forward to another shot with the Warriors after last season was interrupted by injuries.
“I felt like we didn’t really get a chance to show what we could do as a group, as a team, so I’m intrigued by that,” he said. “Returning here and being able to see what we can accomplish - and, also, just that desire to continue to compete, to just continue to compete and try to compete at a high level.”
Golden State has also gotten a look at Brandon Williams, the former Dallas guard whose speed has stood out in camp. His one-year deal is non-guaranteed, but he’s made an impression.
Kerr put it plainly: “He’s the fastest guy we’ve ever had here,” Kerr said. “… Brandon is probably more of a high pick-and-roll speedster, and it changes the calculus.
It gives you more options.”
Another newcomer, Georges Niang, may be carving out a path through the middle. Johnson notes that Niang was used as a small-ball center in Thursday’s scrimmage, which could be his clearest route to minutes.
The 33-year-old forward is trying to rebound after missing all of last season with an injury he suffered in training camp. “I think at this point, if you’re on the court, you better feel comfortable,” Niang said.
“That’s the biggest thing. You want playing time, you figure out where and how to be comfortable, and you find ways to implement things that you can do that can help your team.”
As for Sunday’s preseason opener against the Clippers, Kerr plans to keep Horford, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green around the 12- to 15-minute range, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic. The rest of the rotation is expected to play about 20 minutes.
In Other News...
Warriors Are Betting On A Draymond Change To Fix A Real Problem
Steve Kerr is tweaking the Warriors offense this season with an eye on a problem that has lingered too long: too many giveaways. The plan includes a five-out look while keeping some of the familiar actions that have defined Golden State for years, and Kerr said the teams turnover issues will be a priority as it tries to clean up possession after possession.
A big part of that adjustment involves Draymond Green, who is being asked to take on a different role in the flow of the offense. The early test comes in a preseason game against the Clippers, where Golden State should offer the first real glimpse of how those changes fit together and whether the new approach can help the Warriors look sharper and more secure with the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Are Testing A Surprise Small Ball Lineup Kerr May Actually Use
The Warriors have been tinkering with their frontcourt at training camp as they sort through options for the season ahead, and the search has reached into some less obvious places. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is getting a look as a small-ball center, and veteran forward Georges Niang has also been part of the conversation, giving Golden State another possible way to play without relying on a traditional big.
Steve Kerr has made it clear the team is trying to find the right combinations rather than force a single solution, especially with defensive effectiveness at the center of the plan. With Draymond Green, Al Horford, Charles Bassey and Graham Ike in the mix, and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined by health concerns, the Warriors have enough moving pieces to keep experimenting - and enough uncertainty that the final frontcourt picture may not come into focus for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Young Guards Just Got A Real Shot To Impress
The preseason has already been about easing Stephen Curry and the rest of Golden States veterans into the schedule, and Wednesday in Portland should be no different. With a back-to-back in place, the Warriors are expected to trim the workload for their established core, giving the younger group a much longer runway to show what it can do against the Trail Blazers.
For the guards trying to crack the rotation, that creates a real opening. Brandon Williams and LJ Cryer are among the players who could see a bigger slice of the ballhandling and scoring duties, a chance to make their case for backup minutes behind Curry as the Warriors continue to manage his health carefully after last seasons knee issue. [Read more 🡒]