Curry's Window Stays Open Only if This Becomes Lendeborg's Season
With Butler and Porzingis sidelined and no cap room to buy help, the best way to use Curry's late years is to give the season's growth to a rookie.
Golden State is 2-3 and the 10 seed after back-to-back road wins in Denver and Minnesota. The defining question is whose season this is, and the answer is that one player's growth is the only way to serve the other's window.
The case for riding Curry
Curry is averaging 28.8 points in 27.3 minutes across four games, shooting 38.9 percent from three, and he put up 44 in Minnesota. He is on a two-year deal and costs $62.6 million this season. Every possession spent on someone's learning curve comes off the end of a career that has already produced four titles here. The schedule makes the same case: after the Lakers come the Clippers, Suns, Heat and Magic, and the current pace projects to 33-49.
The case for the rookie
Lendeborg, 24, has played 33.6 minutes a night over five games, with 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists, and he had 31 and 12 in the rout of Denver. The Athletic has framed it as his turn now that Jonathan Kuminga is gone. Green is creating at 6.8 assists but scoring 3.3 points, so the offense needs another big wing who can catch, decide and finish without Curry setting it up.
The cap settles it
Payroll sits at $219.8 million, well past the $200.4 million tax line. Butler's $56.8 million is out with a right knee issue, with an estimated return of January 2. Porzingis, at $19.5 million, and Moody, at $12.5 million, are both estimated back December 1. HoopsRumors reported on October 21 that Golden State was exploring trade options for Porzingis and had contacted Milwaukee, but that is a report, not a deal. The Warriors own their 2027 through 2029 firsts and owe Memphis a protected 2030 first. Nobody is coming to save this roster. The only improvement available is internal.
So whose season is it?
It belongs to Lendeborg, and it has to be run for Curry's benefit. A 115.7 offensive rating against a 117.8 defensive rating says the problem is stops, and the rookie's rebounding and length are the best fix on hand. Let Lendeborg carry the heavy minutes and the half-court touches so Curry can stay a 27-minute weapon instead of a 36-minute engine. If the rookie is ready by the time Butler returns, the window is still open. If he is not, no amount of Curry heroics will keep it open.
When are Kristaps Porzingis and Jimmy Butler expected back for the Warriors?
Porzingis, listed out with an illness, has an estimated return of December 1. Butler, out with a right knee issue, is estimated to return January 2.
How has Yaxel Lendeborg played in his first NBA games?
Through five games he is averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 33.6 minutes, including 31 points and 12 rebounds in the win at Denver.
