Updated Warriors roster (post-trade, no Jimmy)
Core available players:
Stephen Curry
Kawhi Leonard
Trey Murphy III
Al Horford
De’Anthony Melton
Gary Payton II
Seth Curry
Gui Santos
Quinten Post
Will Richard
That’s a very top-heavy roster with limited offensive margin for error.
Likely starting lineup (this season)
PG: Stephen Curry SG: De’Anthony Melton SF: Kawhi Leonard PF: Trey Murphy III C: Al Horford
This five makes sense on paper:
Elite shooting (Steph, Kawhi, Melton, Murphy, Horford)
Strong perimeter defense (Kawhi, Melton)
Clean spacing for Steph–Kawhi actions
But the issue isn’t the starters — it’s what comes after.
Bench reality (this is the concern)
Bench rotation:
Gary Payton II
Seth Curry
Gui Santos
Quinten Post
Will Richard
What’s missing:
❌ No reliable scoring
❌ No proven shot creator
❌ Very limited shooting depth
This bench cannot survive non-Steph minutes but Kawhi and Murphy can carry heavy loads.
Offensive analysis What works
Steph + Kawhi is elite late-game offense
Trey Murphy thrives as a high-volume movement shooter
Horford keeps spacing intact and stabilizes lineups
What breaks
Old roster with injury concerns
Melton can’t carry bench units very well without Murphy/Kawhi
No Podz/Moody means no bench scoring punch
This offense becomes extremely dependent on health and minute management.
Defensive analysis
You lose:
Draymond Green’s communication
Moody/Podz versatility
You rely on:
Kawhi/Murphy to guard the best wing
Melton + GP2 at the point of attack
Horford anchoring the paint at 39 years old
Against wing-heavy teams, you’re fine. Against size (Denver, Minnesota, Houston), you’re thin inside.
Playoff viability (without Jimmy)
Let’s be real:
Ceiling: Finals if Kawhi is healthy and Steph is nuclear.
Median outcome: Competitive WCF exit.
Floor: 1st-2nd round level if either Steph or Kawhi misses time
This roster is not deep enough to absorb injuries or foul trouble.
Strategic verdict What this trade does
✔ Gives Steph elite playoff co-stars ✔ Fixes late-game shot creation ✔ Adds modern wing size and shooting
What this trade creates
⚠ A razor-thin margin roster ⚠ Heavy minute burden on aging stars ⚠ Zero redundancy at guard and center
Final, honest take
This is a championship gamble that assumes Jimmy Butler returns healthy next season.