Steve Kerr didn’t go with the expected look for Golden State’s preseason opener against the Clippers. Instead, the Warriors opened with a lineup that included rookie Yaxel Lendeborg at small forward, giving him the edge over Gui Santos on Sunday.
Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green and Al Horford rounded out the starting five. Horford is not expected to be a regular starter for Golden State, but with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined by a health issue, the 40-year-old got the nod at center.
Kerr explained the thinking behind the group, pointing to the size and versatility it offers.
"Really good size on the front line," Kerr said. "Good playmaking from obviously Steph and Dray together, but also spacing from Al.
Al, Yaxel and BP can all shot the three but also make plays. So it's a good, well-balanced lineup.
"The question will be, can we do that opening night given the age of Al, the minutes, and all that stuff? Who knows. But for now, that's how we'll start."
That last part matters. Kerr appears to be floating the idea of eventually moving Horford to a reserve role to manage his workload. Horford averaged 21.5 minutes per game last season, and starters usually log at least the mid-20s.
A lot of Golden State’s rotation math will depend on Porzingis’ status. If Porzingis and Horford are both available, the expectation is that they’ll soak up nearly all 48 center minutes. If one of them is unavailable, the Warriors may have to lean on Draymond Green or Charles Bassey at the five.
Kerr has already made clear he does not want to use Lendeborg at center, which could create more chances for Bassey if the frontcourt gets thin.
The rookie’s starting assignment is also notable because Kerr usually doesn’t hand out immediate starts to first-year players. Lendeborg earning one suggests he has made a real impression in camp.
That said, Santos isn’t exactly fading quietly. He averaged 15.3 points per game over the final 2.5 months of last season, production that would normally keep a player firmly in the conversation. Kerr said Curry and Green are the only locked-in starters for the regular season, and he added that Santos is "in the mix" for a starting spot.
So the battle at small forward is still open, and it may not be settled anytime soon. Kerr said the competition could run deep into preseason.
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