✅ Key Offseason Moves Trade:
Jonathan Kuminga + 2027 1st Round Pick → Pelicans
Herbert Jones ← from Pelicans
Free Agent Signings:
Al Horford: 2 years, $16.8M
De’Anthony Melton: 2 years, $6.9M
Re-signed Gary Payton II: 2 years, $7.2M
🧠 Rationale Behind Each Move 🔁 Kuminga for Herbert Jones + Pick Kuminga upside → Pelicans needed shot creation and wing athleticism.
Warriors return:
Herbert Jones – Elite perimeter defender, fits Warriors defensive identity.
2027 1st round pick – Gives flexibility for future trades or draft capital.
👴 Al Horford Signing Brings veteran IQ, shooting, and defensive versatility as a big.
Solid fit next to Draymond for minutes where Looney would have played.
🔒 Gary Payton II Re-signing Continuity move. Keeps a key perimeter defender and hustle guy.
Useful against quick guards or in switching defenses.
🧱 De’Anthony Melton Signing Combo guard who defends well and hits 3s.
Adds backcourt depth, especially in lineups where Curry plays off-ball.
📋 Updated 2025–26 Warriors Roster Breakdown
Starters (Projected):
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Jimmy Butler
SF: Herbert Jones
PF: Draymond Green
C: Al Horford (or by committee)
Bench Unit:
Buddy Hield – Floor spacer
Moses Moody – Two-way upside
De’Anthony Melton – Guard defender
Gary Payton II – Energy wing
Brandin Podziemski – Facilitator/shooter
Trayce Jackson-Davis / Quinten Post / Gui Santos – Big rotation depth
🔢 Depth Chart Guards: Curry, Melton, Podziemski, GP2 Wings: Jimmy, Herbert, Moody, Hield Forwards: Draymond, Gui Santos Bigs: Horford, Quinten Post, Jackson-Davis
📈 Impact Analysis
Offensive Outlook:
Improved spacing and defense with, Melton, and Horford.
Jimmy and Curry lead creation; Podz and Buddy support.
Lost Kuminga’s athletic upside, but added steadiness and off-ball fit.
Defensive Outlook:
Massive improvement on the perimeter: Jimmy + Herb + GP2 + Melton.
Horford brings discipline; Draymond still anchors the defense.
Slight drop in vertical rim protection with no true center, but system fits small-ball identity and a much needed veteran stretch big.
Intangibles & Chemistry:
Veteran leadership from Horford, Jimmy, Draymond, and Steph.
Defensive dogs all around—playoff grit core.
Losing Kuminga is a culture shift—but this team is built to win now.
💰 Financial Summary Over cap and 1st apron but not under the 2nd apron and moved into “win-now” mode.
Used tax flexibility smartly: signing vets + keeping defense-first identity.
Future 2027 pick loss hurts slightly, but worth the immediate upgrade.
They made smart, win-now moves to maximize the end of Steph’s prime while keeping defensive identity strong.
Only downside: ceiling depends on health + how much Jimmy and Steph have left in the tank, but given how elite they still are if managed through the regular season correctly instead of putting all the chips onto the second half of the season like they did in 2024-25. They should be geared up for another playoff run trying to get Steph his 5th!