The Golden State Warriors are giving Quinten Post a real shot - and not just a one-off experiment. The 7-footer out of Boston College has now started four straight games, and head coach Steve Kerr confirmed he'll stick with the same starting five that took the floor against the Portland Trail Blazers. That means Post is staying in the lineup for now, and the timing couldn't be more significant with the trade deadline looming.
Golden State is walking a tightrope here. They're evaluating whether Post can grow into the dependable starting center they've been searching for, or if they’ll need to look outside the roster for help before the February 5 trade deadline.
It’s no secret that the Warriors have been thin at the five, especially with Draymond Green’s role as a small-ball center raising sustainability concerns. Green has been the heart of the Warriors’ defense for years, but asking him to anchor the paint night in and night out - especially at this stage of his career - is a tough ask.
That’s where Post comes in.
To his credit, Post has shown flashes. His defensive positioning has improved, and he's starting to look more comfortable switching onto quicker players in pick-and-roll situations.
But consistency is the name of the game, and the Warriors haven’t gotten enough of it yet. That was evident in back-to-back losses to the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers, where Golden State struggled to control the paint and rebound effectively.
Post is averaging 7.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just over 18 minutes per game this season. He’s shooting 44.1% from the field and a respectable 35.9% from deep - numbers that show he can stretch the floor, which is a valuable skill in Kerr’s offense. But the question is whether he can hold his own defensively and bring enough physicality to anchor the center spot against the league’s elite bigs.
If Post doesn’t solidify his role soon, the front office - led by GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. - could pivot quickly. ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently highlighted the Warriors as a team to watch, pointing out that Jonathan Kuminga’s $22.5 million contract becomes trade-eligible on January 15. That opens the door for Golden State to chase a starting-caliber center or bolster their frontcourt depth.
Names like Anthony Davis and Domantas Sabonis have been floated, though those would be blockbuster-level moves. More realistically, Myles Turner has surfaced as a potential target.
Turner brings rim protection, floor spacing, and a manageable contract - all things the Warriors could use right now. Add in the uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-term future in Milwaukee, and Turner’s availability becomes even more intriguing.
But if Post can string together a strong stretch of games, the Warriors might not need to go big at the deadline. That would allow them to shift focus to the wing, where they’ve also been linked to New Orleans’ Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones - two versatile, defensive-minded players who could fit seamlessly into the Warriors’ system.
For Post, this isn’t just about helping the Warriors right now. It’s also a personal opportunity.
The 25-year-old is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, and how he performs over the next few months could have a major impact on his next contract. Whether it’s in Golden State or elsewhere, this stretch could define the early trajectory of his NBA career.
Bottom line: the Warriors are giving Post a chance to prove he belongs - not just as a rotation piece, but as a legitimate starting center. If he can rise to the occasion, it changes the entire calculus for a team still trying to maximize the final years of its championship window.
If not, the Warriors may be one of the most active teams at the trade deadline. Either way, the next few weeks are going to tell us a lot.