Warriors Nightly

Golden State starts the season without several rotation players. Brandin Podziemski is out with a back issue. Charles Bassey is out with a knee issue. Both have an estimated return of Oct. 23, the home game against Memphis. The longer absences hurt more. Moses Moody is out with a left knee injury, with an estimated return of Dec. 1. Kristaps Porzingis is out with an illness, also with a Dec. 1 estimate. Jimmy Butler III is out with a right knee injury, with an estimated return of Jan. 2, 2027. Last season Butler averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 38 games. Moody shot 40.1 percent from three. Without them, the early minutes go to De'Anthony Melton, Brandon Williams, Gui Santos, Will Richard and the young bigs.

Kristaps Porzingis is the name to watch. A report on Oct. 21 said the Warriors are exploring trade avenues for him. A report on Oct. 22 said the Bucks are among the teams Golden State has contacted. None of this is done. Porzingis is still on the roster, and he is listed as out with an illness until about Dec. 1. Last season he played 32 games and averaged 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 24.0 minutes. He shot 33.8 percent from three. Those numbers show both sides of the case: real scoring when he plays, and not many games played. Any trade would change the frontcourt. Al Horford, Draymond Green, Charles Bassey and rookie Graham Ike are the other bigs on the roster.

Stephen Curry is 38 and starting his 18th season. He led the team last season at 26.6 points per game, shooting 39.3 percent from three, but he played only 43 games. He had an injury scare at practice this month. Steve Kerr said Curry is "fine," per Dalton Johnson. Draymond Green is 36 and played 68 games last season, averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Al Horford is 40 with 19 years of experience, and he averaged 8.3 points in 45 games. Gary Payton II and Georges Niang add more veteran depth. This is one of the oldest cores in the league. How much Curry plays, and how many games he plays, will decide a lot of the regular season.

Golden State went 37-45 last season. Its offensive rating was 113.8 and its defensive rating was 114.4, for a net rating of -0.5. The team played at a pace of 100.0 and scored 114.6 points per game. Four players from that roster are gone. Pat Spencer is now with the Suns, and Quinten Post is with the Grizzlies. Nate Williams and Seth Curry are unsigned. Post played a role in the most-used lineup last season, the group with Curry, Butler, Green and Moody. That unit logged 125.0 minutes and had a net rating of -6.5. The new faces include rookies Graham Ike and Yaxel Lendeborg. Second-year guards LJ Cryer and Will Richard are also back for bigger chances.