As the Golden State Warriors gear up for the offseason, the center position has been a swirling question mark. With the NBA Draft on the horizon, the Warriors found themselves without a single center secured for the upcoming season.
Kristaps Porzingis is heading into unrestricted free agency, while Al Horford held a player option that left plenty of room for speculation about his future. Meanwhile, Quinten Post, after a less-than-stellar second season, is stepping into restricted free agency.
However, the Warriors' front office has been busy, and the situation is quickly coming into focus. Reports have surfaced suggesting that the Warriors are making strides toward a contract extension with Porzingis, likely around the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. Shortly after the Draft, Horford decided to tear up his player option, opting instead for a two-year, $14 million return to the Warriors.
This leaves Quinten Post as the final piece of the puzzle. Despite the solidifying returns of Horford and Porzingis, Post also scored a significant win this week. The Warriors opted not to draft a center in the second round, clearing a path for Post to potentially return on a new deal for the 2026-27 season.
The Warriors' decision not to select a center, even with the possibility of snagging Aday Mara at 11th overall, was telling. The second round presented a more plausible opportunity to target a big man, especially at the 54th pick.
But as the draft unfolded, Felix Okpara was snapped up early in the second round, and Henri Veesaar's unexpected slide ended when the Atlanta Hawks swooped in before the Warriors could make their move. Ugonna Onyensu was also taken just ahead of Golden State's selection by the Houston Rockets.
Whether the Warriors had genuine interest in these prospects remains a mystery, though both Okpara and Onyensu did participate in pre-draft workouts with the team. It's not far-fetched to think the Warriors might have taken a chance on any of these players if they were available at the 54th spot.
Instead, the Warriors went with Lajae Jones from Florida State, a wing known for his defensive potential but in need of offensive refinement. Jones is likely to be a two-way player or perhaps a draft-and-stash candidate for the 2026-27 season.
This strategic choice not to draft a center significantly boosts the likelihood of Post's return. Despite a sophomore season that saw him average 7.7 points, four rebounds, and 1.4 assists, with a three-point shooting percentage of just 33.6%, Post showed defensive improvement. However, his slow-footedness and rebounding struggles, compounded by late-season injuries, impacted his playing time.
With Porzingis and Horford both having their own availability issues, the Warriors are in a position where they need a reliable third option at center. Had they drafted a center, even late in the second round, it might have spelled the end for Post with the team. But as things stand, Post finds himself with some newfound leverage in his restricted free agency negotiations.
In Other News...
Warriors Just Put Another Fringe Rotation Wing On Notice
The Warriors used the 54th pick to add Lajae Jones, and even at that stage of the draft, the move can ripple through the back end of a roster. Jones is a wing with a developmental label attached to him, which matters for Golden State because the team is always juggling young upside against the practical need for ready-made depth on the perimeter.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. framed Jones as a long-term project, with the rookies roster status to be sorted out after summer league. For players on the edge of the rotation, that timing can be important, and it leaves the Warriors with another decision to make as they sort through the final spots and decide which wings fit their immediate plans. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors May Be Signaling A Real Roster Shakeup Around Steph
Golden States offseason plan is starting to take shape around Steph Curry, and it sounds like the front office is looking to reshape the roster rather than simply tinker with the edges. According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Warriors are aiming to add more help at guard and in the frontcourt, while also expecting Kristaps Porzingis back before free agency officially opens.
There are still some important calls hanging over the roster, though, with Draymond Green and DeAnthony Melton both facing player-option decisions by Monday afternoon. However those pieces fall, the direction is clear enough: the Warriors seem prepared to make real changes as they try to give Curry a more balanced supporting cast for another run. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Add Another Guard To A Search Fans Are Already Debating
The Warriors search for backcourt depth has turned up another name, and this one is drawing plenty of early conversation among fans looking for the next move. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Golden State has shown interest in free agent guard Brandon Williams, a cost-conscious option after his best scoring season with the Mavericks.
Williams averaged a career-high 13 points per game in Dallas last season, giving him at least a case as a player who can handle a larger role than the one he has had before. For a Warriors team still sorting through its guard options, the appeal is obvious: add another useful body, keep the bill manageable, and see whether the fit makes sense as the broader roster picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]