Two New Guards Arrive, But the Warriors' Real Squeeze Hasn't Moved
The Warriors filled out camp with two new guards this week, but the money and the calendar say the real roster work is still ahead.
Golden State added guards Chance McMillian and Deivon Smith on September 16, rounding out a training camp roster whose $221.1 million payroll already sits past the league's first-apron line. Jimmy Butler is out with a right knee issue; Moses Moody, with a left one, is also out, both targeting a return around December 1, right as the schedule turns real.
Two Names, Not Much Room
McMillian and Smith joined the roster on September 16 as depth guards, not rotation pieces. Neither move changes the math at the top, where Curry, Green, Porziņģis and Butler already account for most of the money on the books.
The Math Behind the Caution
The payroll sits at $221.1 million across 16 contracts, past the $209.0 million first-apron line, and closing in on the $221.7 million second apron. Curry's $62.6 million, Butler's $56.8 million, Green's $27.7 million and Porziņģis's $19.5 million make up most of that total, which is why September's only additions arrived on minimum-level deals instead of trades.
The Knees That Set the Clock
Butler, 37, is out with a right knee issue. Moody, 24, is out too, with a left one. Both are aiming for a return around December 1, the date this 0-0 season is actually built around.
What's Actually Open
The preseason opens October 4 at the Clippers; the regular season starts October 21 at the Lakers, on ESPN. The open question is simple: with the payroll already past the apron and two rotation pieces sidelined into December, how much can this roster show before its best players are even on the floor together.
Who did the Warriors add this week?
Golden State signed guards Chance McMillian and Deivon Smith on September 16, both depth additions for training camp rather than roster-altering moves.
When do the Warriors play their first game of 2026-27?
The preseason opens October 4 at the Clippers, and the regular-season opener is October 21 at the Lakers on ESPN.
