The Warriors’ projected 2026-27 rotation changes a lot if Kristaps Porzingis is unavailable, and the ripple effect is easy to see: the team suddenly has to get creative with the frontcourt.
A simple fix would be to slide Al Horford into Porzingis’ role and let Charles Bassey absorb the minutes Horford was supposed to play. That would push Horford from 22 minutes to 26 and give Bassey 22.
But there’s a catch. Horford is 40 years old, and 24 feels like the most he should be asked to handle.
Bassey also impressed in a short run with the Dubs last year, but 22 minutes per night would still be a surprise.
That’s why the more intriguing answer is to lean into a different kind of lineup entirely. Porzingis’ absence opens the door for Draymond Green or Yaxel Lendeborg to play as a “small-ball 5.”
The label fits loosely with Lendeborg, who is 6'9" and 241 pounds. He’s built well enough that there aren’t many centers who can make him look helpless.
One possible starting five would be Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green. That’s a group that keeps the floor functional and gives the Warriors some flexibility with Lendeborg and Green as the interchangeable 4 and 5.
Before the Porzingis issue, Lendeborg was projected to come off the bench. Now the clearest path may be to start him if training camp goes well. The logic is straightforward: the Warriors may need him to play 30-plus minutes right away, and starting him is the most realistic way to get there.
Porzingis being out would also push the Warriors toward more three-guard looks, which is the kind of thing that could make some fans groan. Still, the team has had success with that structure before. Last season, lineups with Curry, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II posted a plus-6.3 net rating, per Cleaning the Glass.
Lendeborg is also likely to show up frequently in groups with Bassey, since his three-point shooting can pair well with Bassey’s work inside. Brandon Williams, on the other hand, needs to be surrounded by at least three shooters because of his perimeter limitations, which is why Williams and Payton would not be on the floor together.
That’s a group that could really use a healthy Jimmy Butler, but that won’t be available for the first few months of the season.
Even so, the lineup has real upside. It could be one of the Warriors’ best units because it offers strong defensive potential and enough shooting to keep Curry-Payton pick-and-rolls alive on offense.
The Warriors would also finish games with the starters, which lines up with what they did last season. Lineups featuring Curry, Podziemski, Santos and Green posted a plus-16.2 net rating, and if the team can keep that kind of production with Lendeborg in the mix, they should outperform expectations early.
The projected minutes would look like this: Curry 34, Lendeborg 32, Podz 32, Santos 26, Green 26, Horford 24, Melton 22, Payton 16, Williams 14, Richard 8 and Bassey 6.
That is a heavy workload for Lendeborg. Most rookies don’t come anywhere near 32 minutes per game. VJ Edgecombe played 35 minutes per game last season, and Cooper Flagg played 33.5.
The Warriors’ reality is pretty simple: they need Lendeborg. They’ll find out quickly early in the season whether he can handle that kind of burden.
In Other News...
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Podziemski gave the Warriors plenty to think about after the All-Star break last season, when his role and production both took a noticeable step forward. He has said he wants to keep the focus on his play rather than on public commentary, but the stakes around this negotiation are obvious: the team wants him long term, just not at a number that could squeeze the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Already Have A Center Problem Steve Kerr Must Solve
The Warriors frontcourt picture got thinner when they chose not to match Quinten Posts three-year, $30 million offer sheet from Memphis, sending the center away and leaving Steve Kerr with another lineup question to answer. Post had looked like a potentially useful fit as the sort of big man who could help stabilize the rotation, especially with the team still sorting out how it wants to play up front.
Now the attention turns to the center spot in the coming games, including the preseason meeting with the L.A. Clippers, where Golden State figures to keep testing different looks. Kristaps Porzingis is also dealing with an early illness concern that could complicate the picture even more, making the next few days a useful preview of how the Warriors plan to handle a position that suddenly feels a little less settled. [Read more 🡒]