The Warriors' Numbers Point to a Costly, Middle-of-the-Pack Team
Golden State's price tag has climbed past the tax line even as last season's results settled into the middle of the league, and the number that might change that comes from too small a sample to trust yet.
The Warriors carry $221.1 million in salary above the first apron, the bill for a core that finished 37-45 with a below-average net rating last season. The clearest sign of what could look different, an eight-game lineup with a plus-16.9 net rating, is still too small a sample to lean on before Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler both return.
A Payroll That Outruns the Roster
Golden State's payroll sits at $221.1 million across 16 contracts, already above the first apron and clear of the $200.4 million luxury tax line. That number buys continuity: Curry, Butler, Green and Porziņģis account for the four biggest deals on the books. It does not buy certainty, and it leaves little room to add anyone without moving money out first.
37-45 Wasn't a Collapse, and It Wasn't Progress
Last season's record was 37-45, with a net rating of minus-0.5 built on a 113.8 offense and a 114.4 defense. That ranked 20th of 30 teams in net rating, 19th on offense and 16th on defense: a team stuck in the middle, not a team that clearly regressed or clearly improved.
The Top of the Scoring Sheet Is Familiar
Curry averaged 26.6 points over 43 games last season, Butler 20.0 over 38, the two leading scorers on the roster. Neither played close to a full 82, the same durability question that has followed this roster for years, one that a payroll built for both to be on the floor cannot answer by itself.
One Lineup, Eight Games, a Number Worth Watching
The Curry-Butler-Green-Kuminga-Podziemski group posted a net rating of plus-16.9 over eight games and 65 minutes last season, the best mark of any lineup logged. It is also the smallest sample of the group's best options, and it will stay untested for a while: both Butler and Moody are projected to return December 1.
How much are the Warriors paying in salary for 2026-27?
Golden State's payroll is $221.1 million across 16 contracts, above the first apron and over the $200.4 million luxury tax line.
What was the Warriors' best lineup by net rating last season?
The Curry-Butler-Green-Kuminga-Podziemski group posted a plus-16.9 net rating over eight games and 65 minutes, the top mark on record, though the sample is small.
