Tag: Warriors news

Moses Moody cited as Warriors “best-kept secret”

Moses Moody could be set to have a big season for the Golden State Warriors.

Moses Moody has been with the Golden State Warriors since being drafted with the 14th pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He played in 66 regular season games for Steve Kerr’s team during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 8.1 points, 3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game on 46.2% shooting from the field and 36% from three-point range.

According to Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, Moody is the Warriors’ “best-kept secret” heading into the new season. The 22-year-old could potentially find himself in a bigger role following the departures of Klay Thompson and Chris Paul, especially as he faces a make-or-break season for his tenure in the Bay Area.

“Moody is a jack of all trades but a master of none,” Hughes wrote. “He’s got ideal wing size and length as a defender, shoots the three at 36.4 percent for his career and generally plays within himself. It’s just that the Warriors seem to always have one or two players who are better at each of those individual skills…Moody enters a prove-it season with new obstacles to his playing time in De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson, plus an ascendant Brandin Podziemski.”

Golden State reportedly offered the Utah Jazz a trade package centered around Moody when attempting to bring Lauri Markkanen to the Bay Area. With that deal failing to come to fruition, Moody has extra incentive to have a breakout season and cement himself in the rotation.

Moody is entering the final year of his current contract. He will be a restricted-free agent next summer. As such, he must make the most of his opportunities in the upcoming season and prove that he can be an impactful member of the rotation. Otherwise, he may be better suited to finding a new team and proving himself elsewhere in the league.

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Warriors could potentially avoid first tax apron

The Golden State Warriors could potentially avoid the luxury tax next season.

The Golden State Warriors have reduced their total salary obligations during the offseason. With Klay Thompson and Chris Paul both leaving the franchise, the Warriors’ cap sheet looks healthier than it has in multiple years. During the 2023-24 season, Joe Lacob noted how he wanted the franchise to reduce its tax burden and potentially avoid being hit with another repeater tax.

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, cap guru Eric Pincus explained how the new cap rules and the Warriors’ recent moves in free agency have set the team up to potentially avoid the first tax apron in the upcoming season.

“The significant change for the Warriors was the reduction in luxury tax from last year’s league-leading $176.9 million penalty,” Pincus wrote. “It wouldn’t be shocking if the franchise dropped entirely below the tax line before the trade deadline. Thompson may be gone, but the team added De’Anthony Melton, Anderson and Hield while dramatically reducing payroll.”

The front office has done a great job of re-tooling the roster while also shedding a significant amount of salary. The Warriors are potentially better equipped than they were last season and could avoid being a luxury tax team in the coming months.
Whether the front office decides to pursue ducking under the luxury tax or commits to adding another impactful player to the rotation remains to be seen. Either way, it’s been a strong summer in the Bay Area.
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Jonathan Kuminga’s contract demands revealed

Jonathan Kuminga’s demands for his next contract have been revealed.

Jonathan Kuminga was a breakout star for the Golden State Warriors last season. The explosive forward emerged as a vital piece of the rotation and showcased All-Star level upside. As such, he earned himself a spot in the starting lineup in 46 of his 74 outings for the franchise.

Kuminga is entering the final year of his rookie-scale contract. According to Yahoo Sports Jake Fischer, via his “No Cap Room” podcast, Kuminga will seek a full max contract for his next deal. However, those type of contracts are usually reserved for high-level stars, which he is yet to prove himself as.

“Jonathan Kuminga is entering the final year of his rookie deal where the word around the league from various sources is that Kuminga and his representation are looking for a full max extension, which as we just talked about with Brandon Ingram and Jamal Murray and whoever, like if you’re not an absolute All-Star, Scottie Barnes type of guy for Toronto, Lauri Markkanen for Utah you know, Trae Young for Atlanta back in the day, because look at what happened to Trae Young and Atlanta since then, it’s really hard to get that number,” Fischer said.

If Kuminga is truly seeking such a lofty contract extension, he must produce the best season of his young career. Golden State have re-tooled their roster over the opening month of the off-season. Therefore, Kuminga is expected to have more opportunities and a bigger role. The ball will officially be in his court.

Golden State may choose to reach a middle ground with Kuminga during the season rather than waiting to negotiate next summer. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how the two sides approach negotiations in the coming weeks and months.

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Warriors young core must show signs of growth next season

The Golden State Warriors younger contingent must show signs of development next season.

The Golden State Warriors have been straddling two developmental timelines for multiple years. At the one end of the spectrum, you have Steph Curry and Draymond Green, two veterans with vast championship experience and the talent to continue challenging at the highest levels of the NBA. On the other hand, you have Jonathan Kumigna, Moses Moody, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski all of whom look capable of leading the Warriors’ next generation.

However, Steve Kerr has often struggled to find the balance between developing the franchise’s younger talents and ensuring the team is competitive enough to give Curry and Green a shot at winning another championship ring.

In a recent episode of “Locked On Warriors,” the hosts discussed how Golden State can bridge the gap between the two timelines. The conclusion was that the Warriors’ younger talents must show signs of rapid growth so that they can play their part in a potential push to the NBA Finals, either next season or the one after.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded link above.

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Steph Curry ranked as 5th best guard in the NBA

HoopsHype has ranked Steph Curry as the fifth best guard in the NBA heading into next season.

Steph Curry will turn 37 years old during the 2024-25 NBA season. The Golden State Warriors veteran is writing his career’s final chapter. He’s currently working on the Olympics segment as he chases a gold medal with Team USA. However, once he returns to the Bay Area, all focus will turn toward challenging for an NBA championship.

Curry may be in the final phase of his playing career, but that doesn’t mean he’s ineffective. In fact, HoopsHype has recently ranked him as a top-five guard in the NBA, with Luka Doncic, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton the only players ahead of him in their latest rankings.

“Curry’s next season will be his age-36 campaign, so if we project a slight drop-off for the former two-time league MVP and progression from other promising young point guards like Haliburton and Brunson, Curry’s place on this ranking starts to make more sense,” HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina reasoned. “Even so, we expect Curry to remain among the elite of the position in 2024-25 and challenge for All-NBA honors once more. We just think that the next campaign might be a bit of a passing-of-the-guard season in the point-guard hierarchy in the NBA.”

Curry played in 74 games for the Warriors last season. He averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 45% from the field and 40.8% from 3-point range. Despite his age, he remains the best shooter in the world and can punish any defense when catching the ball in space.

Golden State’s roster has undergone some significant changes this summer. As such, Curry will have some new teammates to gel with and potentially some new opportunities to get open and attack any potential space. After all, he is still at his best when letting the three-ball fly and leading by example.

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A closer look at Quinten Post’s game

The Golden State Warriors have released a video breakdown of Quinten Post’s game.

The Golden State Warriors selected Quinten Post with the 52nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The versatile big man can play both the power forward and center position. At 7-foot tall, Post adds genuine size to Steve Kerr’s roster. If he can find a way to crack the rotation, his presence will go a long way to solving a legitimate issue within the Warriors’ team construction.

Post spent time playing for both Mississippi State and Boston College before entering the draft. However, most Warriors fans are likely wondering what the big man brings to the table. As such, Golden State’s social media team has released a video breakdown of Post’s skillset.

The video shows all the different aspects of Post’s game, along with some highlights from his collegiate career. It also heavily features Post talking through his skillset and how it can translate to the NBA.

You can watch the full breakdown by clicking on the embedded video above.

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Kevin Durant bites back at Keyshawn Johnson

The superstar forward clapped back at Keyshawn Johnson’s recent criticism.

Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016 has generated significant criticism over the years. Many NBA fans and analysts have questioned the legitimacy of Durant’s two championships with the franchise due to his inability to win another ring without the help of Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

Even now, five years after Durant left the Bay Area, his tenure with the Warriors is still questioned. The latest instance of this was when Keyshawn Johnson noted that Paul Pierce could have had a similar impact if he was put into the same situation in Golden State. However, Durant quickly chose to snap back at the Fox Sports analyst.

“If the Jets would’ve took Jonathan Ogden, Marvin Harrison, Ray Lewis or Eddie George number 1 they would’ve been better off……I hate comparisons,” Durant wrote.

Durant’s comments were aimed at Johnson’s tenure in the NFL, and the fact he was drafted ahead of multiple future Hall of Fame talents. The Phoenix Suns star was likely making the point that it’s easy to make historical claims without them ever needing to be tested.

Durant is currently in Paris with Team USA as Steve Kerr attempts to lead a star-studded roster to a gold medal.

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Why the Warriors can contend for a championship next season

The Golden State Warriors have enough talent within their roster to challenge for the 2025 NBA championship.

Last season, the Golden State Warriors failed to make the playoffs. Steve Kerr’s team struggled to control games and often lost games from winning positions. Since the start of the offseason, Golden State’s front office has presided over a significant roster change, led by Klay Thompson’s exit.

With so many new faces and a roster full of versatile talent, there’s hope that Golden State can show improvements from what we saw last season. As such, Kerr’s team could emerge as a potential contender in the Western Conference, especially if their defense improves from what we saw last season.

In a recent video by the “Bully Ball” YouTube channel, the host explores the potential for Golden State to win the NBA championship next season, even laying out four different reasons why it’s a logical expectation for the franchise.

You can watch the full video by clicking on the embedded link above.

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Can Jerry Stackhouse improve the Warriors defense?

The Golden State Warriors new assistant coach has some ideas on how to improve the team’s approach on defense.

Steve Kerr’s coaching staff has two new faces heading into the new season. The Golden State Warriors have hired Terry Stotts as the lead assistant, while also adding Jerry Stackhouse to the ranks. The former is expected to have a significant impact on how the Warriors look to approach things on the defensive end moving forward.

During a recent interview with NBC Sports Bay Area, Stackhouse detailed his vision for how he wants Golden State to play defense. He noted how physicality would be a keyword moving forward while also looking to design a system that works for the player personnel on the roster.

“Physical – that’s the one word that I would say,” Stackhouse said. “Physical. You’ve got to be able to scramble, you’ve got to be able to rotate, and you have to see things. A lot of that is kind of built in. We want to shy away from things that go against what we don’t have built-in. That’s my philosophy on the defensive side of the ball since I’ve been coaching…But you always want to see your personnel and adjust accordingly, not come in so rigid where we just want to do it a certain way. There are some special talents, and they don’t have to do it the same way everybody else does. You have to understand that.”

Golden State finished 15th in defensive rating last season. They lost multiple close games down the stretch, often from a winning position. If Stackhouse can have the desired impact, the Warriors could be capable of winning 50 or more games in the upcoming campaign.

Of course, Stackhouse isn’t the only one working with new talent this year. Kerr has multiple new faces on the roster. As such, the Warriors’ overall approach is expected to be different from what we’ve become accustomed to seeing in recent years.

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The Warriors front office believes in Jonathan Kuminga

The Golden State Warriors front office remain high on what Jonathan Kuminga brings to the table.

Jonathan Kuminga enjoyed a breakout 2023-24 season for the Golden State Warriors. The third-year forward played in 74 regular-season games, averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 52.9% from the field. Kuminga’s size and athleticism give Steve Kerr’s roster a different dimension.

During a recent appearance on “The TK Show” podcast, Joe Lacob discussed Kuminga’s potential to continue developing while noting that he had multiple admirers within the Warriors front office. The explosive forward is seen as a future All-Star and a core piece of Golden State’s young core, thus making him incredibly valuable to the franchise.

“I’m a big, big believer in Jonathan Kuminga,” Lacob said. “Everyone knows I’m a big JK fan. So is our basketball operations, Mike (Dunleavy Jr.) and Kirk (Lacob) and those guys. And by the way, so are our coaches. I know people sometimes think that’s not true, but that is true…He had a big step last year. We expect him to have another big step this year. I expect him to be a Warrior for a long time.”

The Warriors’ insistence on straddling two timelines has begun to pay dividends, as multiple members of the young core are starting to emerge as high-level role players and potential stars of the future.

As such, it’s only logical to expect Kuminga’s role to continue expanding in the coming years as he continues to develop and work toward becoming one of the elite forwards in the NBA.

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