The Golden State Warriors may not be living in the old “two timelines” world anymore, but there’s still a real young group on the roster - and the youngest player in this ranking is already 23. None of these guys is so raw that he’d threaten the team’s ability to function when he’s on the floor.
This list is also limited to players under contract with Golden State, meaning standard deals and two-way contracts only. That leaves out Lajae Jones, Dalen Terry and Alex Toohey.
The ranking is built around one question: who would matter most in a 2027 playoff series?
Moses Moody lands at No. 1, and the case starts with the impact he was already making before a patellar tendon tear knocked him out for at least half the season. If he returns at the same level he had when he got hurt, he belongs at the top.
And there’s reason to believe he can get there by season’s end. His 2.2 EPM is no small thing - that’s in the 89th percentile, fueled by a 94th percentile Defensive EPM.
Those numbers line up with what he’s doing on the floor, especially his team-best on-ball defense. He’s handled elite point guards and bigger wings without blinking.
Offensively, he brings more three-point value than Brandin Podziemski because he shoots a slightly better percentage and takes more of them. That volume comes in part because his release is quicker and higher.
Podziemski checks in at No. 2, even though you could make the argument for Jaime Jaquez Jr. Lendeborg being there based on last season’s numbers.
But the projection here is that Podziemski will have the better 2026-27 season. In 2024-25, he posted a 1.1 EPM and a plus-6.8 net rating.
His impact dipped early in 2025-26, then he steadied himself with a strong second half, including 18.1 points per game over the final two months. When he’s scoring like that while still giving you real defense and rebounding, he’s exactly the kind of player who fits this spot.
Lendeborg sits next, and his placement is all about upside. He could just as easily end the season first or fourth.
The belief here is strong - he’s expected to become a very impactful NBA player, and a solid rookie year should be the minimum, especially since he’ll be 24 before the season begins. Still, the two players ahead of him have already shown steady impact over time.
The guess is that Lendeborg will be No. 1 for a 2028 playoff series, but for 2027, the edge goes to the veterans.
Jackson Rowe’s spot is built on versatility, defense and a useful scoring profile that doesn’t require the ball to be in his hands all the time. He finished the season strong, averaging 15.4 points on 51.5 percent shooting over the last 31 games.
The three-point shot wasn’t as reliable over the last month and a half, when he hit just 30.9 percent from deep, but he can still help a team even when the jumper isn’t falling. He’s smart about choosing his driving lanes, and at 6'7", he brings defensive flexibility.
The expectation is that he settles in as a stretch-4 off the bench once Jimmy Butler returns from his ACL injury. For Rowe to grow into a long-term starter, though, he’ll need more from his shooting and his one-on-one scoring package.
Will Richard comes in ahead of John Cryer because his defensive versatility carries more value, even though Cryer had a better EPM and net rating via Cleaning the Glass and could have been slotted one spot higher. Cryer competes hard defensively, but at 6'0", he’s an easy target.
He helps offset that with his 39.4 percent shooting from three, though beyond that he doesn’t do a ton offensively. The next step for him is improving his handle so he can get into the paint more often for floaters and kickouts.
Richard, meanwhile, logged 1,377 minutes as a rookie and generally held up well, which is a strong outcome for a late second-round pick. His calling card is creating deflections and steals, shown in his 2.1 steal rate per 36 minutes.
The 6'3" guard also chips in by crashing the offensive glass. The limitations are clear: his offense is mostly about spacing and cutting because he doesn’t have the handle to beat defenders off the dribble.
If he can push his three-point percentage from 33.5 percent to something meaningfully better, he’ll have a long NBA run.
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