Golden State’s offseason has been almost eerily quiet, but the roster picture is finally starting to come into focus.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said the Warriors are expected to carry a full 15-man roster into their season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21. That would mean two more signings are still on the way, with Golden State currently sitting at 13 contracted players.
The Warriors have operated far enough below the second apron to add two players on minimum deals, and that appears to be the plan even though the franchise has often left a spot open in recent years to save on tax costs. This time, the injury situation has left them with less flexibility. Starting wings Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are both set to miss the start of the season with major knee injuries, so the team is expected to fill every available spot and head into the opener with 13 healthy players, plus three players on two-way contracts.
Golden State has also taken a conservative approach in free agency, choosing to bring back much of the same group rather than chase outside additions. The list of new deals includes Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, De'Anthony Melton, Draymond Green and Gary Payton II. The only new face on the roster six weeks into free agency is Yaxel Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick, who gave the team one of its brighter summer storylines by winning Summer League MVP and helping lead Golden State to the championship.
There are still a few different ways the final roster spots could shake out. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported last week that the Warriors are expected to land either Kelly Olynyk or Georges Niang, both of whom remain unsigned. Fischer also said on Tuesday that Golden State is considering bringing former first-round pick Dalen Terry to training camp after he was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in order to make room for LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
That setup would point to one signing for the 14th spot, followed by a training camp competition for the 15th, with Terry potentially in the mix along with others trying to keep their NBA careers going.
Golden State also has alternatives beyond the veteran market. The team could promote second-round pick Lajae Jones to the main roster, which would be a cheaper route than signing a veteran minimum player. Another possibility is two-way guard LJ Cryer, who is a candidate for promotion after finishing last season strongly and backing it up with a solid summer league run.
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Joe Lacob Just Reopened A Painful Warriors Draft Debate
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Joe Lacob recently stepped back into that conversation by defending the decision to draft Kuminga, saying he does not consider it a mistake even with the forward no longer on the roster. The timing makes the topic linger a little longer, too, with Kuminga still unsigned several weeks into free agency and now being mentioned as a possible target for the Los Angeles Lakers. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Still Has One Thing The Warriors May Be Wasting
The Warriors have spent years leaning into stability, keeping the same core of players, coach and ownership intact while much of the league has churned around them. Even as the Lakers have gone through another ownership change and remade their roster around Luka Doni, Golden State has mostly stayed the course, trusting continuity to keep the window open for Stephen Curry and the rest of the group.
But that patience can also raise a harder question: when a franchise protects its structure this aggressively, is it getting the most out of its greatest asset, or simply preserving what it already knows? Curry remains the face of everything Golden State wants to be, and the contrast with teams willing to move quickly to secure a superstar future only sharpens the sense that the Warriors may be relying on continuity at a moment when a little more urgency could matter. [Read more 🡒]
Juan Toscano-Anderson Still Means Something Special To Oakland Fans
Juan Toscano-Andersons return to Oakland this week carried the kind of easy familiarity that has made him a favorite far beyond his box score value. He took part in the unveiling of a refurbished basketball court and mural at the OK Program of Oakland, a nonprofit centered on mentoring Black youth, and used the moment to speak about his path to the NBA and the pride that comes with representing your hometown.
Toscano-Anderson also spent time on the court with the kids, mixing conversation with a little basketball and spending time with program leaders and participants. For Warriors fans who still connect him with the citys basketball roots, it was another reminder that his bond with Oakland is about more than the memories he made there as a player. [Read more 🡒]