As the Golden State Warriors navigate the post-Jimmy Butler era, one truth is becoming harder to ignore: no single trade is going to vault them back into the championship picture this season. The roster, as currently constructed, simply doesn’t have enough firepower behind Stephen Curry. And unless a blockbuster move materializes - one that brings in a true co-star - even the addition of a solid piece like Andrew Wiggins from Miami won’t change the trajectory of their 2025-26 campaign.
So what’s left for Golden State? Development.
Internal growth. A recalibration that looks beyond this season and toward building a more sustainable contender for next year.
And that path hinges on two key factors: finding a legitimate second scorer this offseason, and getting meaningful progression from the supporting cast already in house.
Enter Quinten Post.
The second-year center is starting to carve out a role that could have long-term implications for the Warriors’ future. He’s not a finished product - not even close - but the flashes are there. And for a team that’s spent the better part of two seasons trying to thread the needle between contending and rebuilding, Post’s emergence could help simplify the equation.
The Warriors have been wrestling with a familiar dilemma: chase another scorer to lighten Curry’s offensive burden, or target a modern big man who can stretch the floor and protect the rim? Last year, they leaned into the first option by acquiring Butler.
That move made sense at the time - Butler brought toughness, experience, and a scoring punch. But with him now sidelined, the question has resurfaced.
Rumors linked them to names like Michael Porter Jr., suggesting the front office was once again eyeing offense-first reinforcements.
But Post’s recent play is giving them something to think about.
Since Butler went down, Post has started two of the last four games. His numbers won’t jump off the page - seven points, 3.5 rebounds per game, and no assists - but he’s been knocking down 40% of his threes in that span.
More importantly, he’s showing signs of growth on the defensive end. The gaudy block numbers that popped earlier in the season have cooled off, but the effort and positioning are improving.
That, for a young big man, is often the more telling sign.
No one’s expecting Post to become a dominant rim protector overnight - or ever, really. That’s not his game.
But the Warriors don’t need him to be Rudy Gobert. What they need is a center who can space the floor, hold his own defensively, and complement Draymond Green’s unique skill set.
If Post can do that consistently, he addresses a long-standing roster hole that Golden State has tried to patch with short-term fixes for years.
Now, let’s be clear: Steve Kerr hasn’t fully handed him the keys yet. Post played just five minutes in the recent matchup against Dallas, which shows there’s still a trust gap to close.
But the opportunity is there. If he can string together solid performances and prove he belongs in the starting five, he could lock down that role heading into next season.
And that would give the Warriors clarity - a foundation to build on. With a reliable stretch-five in place, their offseason focus can shift fully to finding that secondary scorer to flank Curry. It won’t be an easy task, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve already filled one of the toughest roles to find in today’s NBA.
So while the Warriors may be out of the title hunt this year, the next few months still matter. For Quinten Post, they could be career-defining. For Golden State, they could be the first step toward building the next great iteration of this franchise.