Ben Simmons did not suit up for the Kings’ preseason opener against the Lakers on Monday, even though 13 Sacramento players got into the game.
That absence was by design. Marc J.
Spears of Andscape reported that Simmons is healthy and has had a strong training camp, but the Kings are choosing to be careful as they bring him along after he missed all of last season. His first preseason action is now expected to come either Thursday against the Lakers or Saturday against the Warriors.
Elsewhere in the Pacific, Darius Garland said he is ready for a bigger spotlight with the Clippers after the Kawhi Leonard trade. In an ESPN interview with Spears, Garland was asked if he wants to be the “face of the franchise,” and he made it clear that’s a role he welcomes.
“It’s definitely something that I want,” Garland said. “I think I’ve been through a lot in this career and I think I’m ready to take on the reins of that.
Especially in year eight, I think I’ve actually found myself a little bit and I know where I want to get to.” Garland also said the toe issue that limited him to 45 games last season is now “100%.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr also addressed the state of his roster in comments to Anthony Slater of ESPN. He said he wasn’t surprised by Stephen Curry taking an extension below the max, discussed Yaxel Lendeborg’s expected role, and praised Mike Dunleavy Jr. for how he has managed the team’s roster as Golden State tries to bridge one era to the next.
“Mike’s been drafting really well,” Kerr said. “We’ve got good young players.
We’ll have a ton of cap space next summer. We’ve got all our draft picks going forward.”
And after Golden State’s preseason opener on Sunday, Draymond Green said his new offensive responsibilities are a “big adjustment,” but he’s confident he’ll settle in. Dan Dempster of NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Green is expected to spend less time at the top of the floor directing the offense in Kerr’s new five-out system. “figure it out,” Green said.
In Other News...
Warriors Just Sent A Big Opening Night Lineup Message
Steve Kerr is already hinting at how the Warriors might look when the games start to count, and Tuesdays second preseason game offered another clue. Veteran center Al Horford is set to come off the bench, with Gui Santos sliding into the starting lineup as Golden State leans into a smaller look while it sorts out roles and minutes.
Horfords reserve status appears tied to workload management, but the bigger question still hanging over the roster is Kristaps Porzingis. He remains out indefinitely, and his uncertain timeline leaves real doubt about whether he can be available for the season opener against the Lakers, which could push Golden State toward a small-ball answer right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Shares Why Don Nelson Still Means So Much To Warriors
The Warriors opened their preseason schedule against the Lakers at Chase Center with more than just a new look on the court. Golden State also unveiled a jersey patch honoring the late Don Nelson, the former coach who died in August, turning the night into a small but meaningful tribute to one of the most influential figures in franchise history.
Before tipoff, Stephen Curry reflected on what Nelson meant to the organization and the league, a reminder that the Warriors present-day success still carries echoes of earlier eras. Nelsons fingerprints were felt long before Curry became a superstar, but his connection to the current core gives the tribute extra weight, especially on a night when the team was back on the floor to begin another season. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A Telling Brandin Podziemski Decision Amid Bigger Questions
The Warriors have more than one roster matter hanging in the balance, but Brandin Podziemski has become a telling one. Marc Stein reported that Golden State is working toward a contract agreement with the young guard, a move that would keep a promising piece in place as the franchise keeps trying to sort out a roster that still feels uneven around its core.
It is a familiar kind of Warriors crossroads: protect the future while managing the present. With concerns already lingering around the health of Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis, the urgency goes beyond one negotiation, even if Podziemski's situation may resolve soon. How Golden State handles that conversation will say plenty about where the front office thinks this team is headed. [Read more 🡒]