The Warriors are heading into Friday’s game against the Spurs with a very different look, and the absence of Stephen Curry and Brandon Williams forces Steve Kerr into some uncomfortable choices.
Curry will miss at least the next two weeks with an oblique tear, and there’s already speculation that the injury could sideline him for about a month. Williams is also out with a hamstring injury and will miss at least the next couple games, leaving Golden State thinner in the backcourt than it wants to be.
If Kerr were mapping out the rotation for San Antonio, the starting five would likely look like this: De’Anthony Melton at point guard, Brandin Podziemski at shooting guard, Gui Santos at small forward, Yaxel Lendeborg at power forward and Draymond Green at center.
Melton stepping in for Curry is the obvious move. He’s hitting 42.9 percent from deep, and he brings defense along with enough ball-handling to keep the offense moving.
Santos is the shakier piece. His grip on that starting job is loose, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Kerr decided to send him to the bench. Still, there’s a case for giving him one more chance to start, especially because the Warriors need whatever scoring he can provide.
There’s also the question of size against Victor Wembanyama. A traditional center has some appeal on paper, but Green handled the 7-foot-4 big man well last year, and Golden State may trust him most in that matchup.
That’s where the rest of the rotation becomes especially important. The four players coming off the bench - LJ Cryer, Will Richard, Georges Niang and Al Horford - all bring floor spacing, which matters even more now that Curry is out. They were useful before, but their shooting becomes a much bigger deal when the offense is short on creation.
Cryer and Gary Payton II were a strong pairing last year, posting a plus-20.0 net rating, according to Cleaning the Glass. The fit makes sense: Cryer gives you shooting and ball-handling, while Payton supplies interior scoring and defense.
Green and Horford have also worked well together this season, with a plus-18.2 net rating. Horford’s ability to stretch the floor helps keep Green from getting boxed in offensively.
The one lineup wrinkle that stands out involves Lendeborg and Charles Bassey. This is the only stretch in which they’re projected together, though there’s a real argument for using that pairing more often.
When Lendeborg and Bassey share the floor, the Warriors have a plus-15.7 net rating. When Lendeborg plays without Bassey, that number drops to minus-3.9.
For now, the projected minutes break down like this: Podziemski 34, Lendeborg 32, Green 26, Santos 26, Melton 26, Cryer 22, Niang 22, Bassey 16, Richard 14, Horford 14 and Payton 8.
Bassey actually owns a team-high 17.9 net rating, so there’s a case for giving him more than 16 minutes. Still, against Wembanyama, there’s reason to be careful with bigs who don’t stretch the floor. That said, Bassey could be in line for a bigger role later on the road trip.
Cryer, meanwhile, is getting thrown into the deep end. Golden State needs his shooting and his ability to handle the ball so badly that 20-plus minutes a night makes sense.
In Other News...
Jimmy Butler's Rehab Just Raised A New Warriors Question
Jimmy Butlers recovery from a torn ACL has already become one of the more closely watched storylines around Golden State, and his latest step has only added another layer to it. Butler has said he wants to get into a G League game for the Santa Cruz Warriors before he makes his way back to the Warriors lineup, a plan that would give him a live-game test in a lower-pressure setting as he works his way through rehab.
For Golden State, the idea is intriguing because it would offer a clearer bridge between the training room and the NBA floor, but it still depends on medical clearance from the teams staff. Steve Kerr has welcomed the possibility, though it remains unclear whether the Santa Cruz appearance would become an official part of Butlers rehabilitation path, leaving the Warriors with one more question to sort out as his return draws closer. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Trade Need Suddenly Feels Real After Curry Injury
Stephen Currys oblique injury has changed the temperature around Golden State almost overnight, turning a roster conversation into something far more urgent. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that the Warriors are now looking at potential trade targets such as Wendell Carter Jr. and Naz Reid as they try to steady a frontcourt that suddenly looks thinner than expected.
Carter has been performing well this season for the Orlando Magic, and the idea of adding a player with a similar profile to Kristaps Porzingis gives the Warriors a clearer sense of the type of move they may be chasing. For now, though, it remains speculative, with any real path forward depending on negotiations between Golden State and Orlando, and on how aggressively the Warriors decide to respond to Currys absence. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A New Trade Problem In Porzingis Pursuit
The NBAs draft lottery reform has quietly changed the trade market, and it may be making life harder for the Warriors as they try to sort through a Kristaps Porzingis pursuit. With the incentive to bottom out reduced, fewer low-performing teams are eager to move veteran pieces, which means the usual pool of sellers is thinner than it once was. For Golden State, that can turn a straightforward search for a deal into a much narrower hunt.
So the Warriors may have to look elsewhere for a workable path, and that likely means teams dealing with financial pressure rather than teams chasing the lottery. The Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic stand out as possible partners in that kind of framework, but the broader point is clear: this is no longer just about finding a team willing to trade, it is about finding one with the right mix of need and flexibility. [Read more 🡒]