Opening Night at the Lakers Without Butler, Moody or Podziemski

0:04The host: January 2, 2027. That's the estimated return date for Jimmy Butler's right knee, and it showed up on the report for opening night. The Warriors start 2026-27 tonight at the Lakers without Butler, without Moses Moody, without Kristaps Porziņģis and without Brandin Podziemski.

0:23The analyst: That's three of the five guys who logged the most minutes last season. Butler at 31.1 per game, Podziemski at 28.4, Moody at 25.7. That's not a depth chart problem. That's a different team.

0:38The host: And it's the wrong team to meet shorthanded. The Lakers went 53-29 last season, we went 37-45. They ended our 2021 in the play-in and our 2023 in the conference semis.

0:52The analyst: Before you mention it: yes, the Warriors beat them 101-89 on October 13. Preseason. Nobody knows what JJ Redick was trying to win that night, so it proves nothing about tonight.

1:04The host: Fine. But they're short too. Collin Sexton is out with the calf, Adou Thiero with the left knee, Cameron Carr with the oblique.

1:13The analyst: Sexton's the real loss, 68 games for them last season. The other two don't move it. Luka Dončić does. Last season he averaged 8.3 assists per game in 35.8 minutes, and that offense finished with a 117.0 offensive rating.

1:30The host: So who takes him?

1:32The analyst: That's tonight's game. Gary Payton II and De'Anthony Melton have to make every one of those 8.3 assists hard, because this defense ranked 16th last season with Butler on the roster. Without him, Draymond Green runs every coverage call at 36.

1:48The host: Draymond in year 14 against Luka is the most fun thing on this card. And there's good news on the report too: Stephen Curry's ankle carries an estimated return of today.

2:00The analyst: Listed, not ruled out. Kerr called him "fine" after the scare at practice on October 18, per Dalton Johnson. But that same day the listing started as a right knee and turned into a right ankle. I'll believe it at the opening tip.

2:15The host: He's 38, it's his 17th season, and last season he put up 26.6 points per game. That's still the bar.

2:23The analyst: In 43 games. That's the number that worries me, not the 26.6.

2:28The host: Also out: Charles Bassey, whose knee moved to Out today, and Podziemski, whose back moved there yesterday. Both are aimed at October 23 against Memphis.

2:39The analyst: Which is why my number of the day is 29.6. That's Gui Santos' minutes per game across his last 10 games. His mark for the season is 20.5.

2:50The host: That's a starter's job. He's earned it.

2:52The analyst: He's earned exhibition minutes while Kerr rested regulars in groups. Ten games doesn't prove he can hold 29.6 against Dončić and Austin Reaves. And he had a left knee listing on October 16.

3:06The host: Last time out we said to watch Brandon Williams' minutes once the real rotation came back. It came back, the Warriors finished 4-2 in preseason, and now it's gone again.

3:16The analyst: So that storyline closes the ugly way. Williams shot 23.2% from three last season, and with Podziemski out he's in the backup guard mix with Will Richard and LJ Cryer.

3:29The host: Last real tune-up, October 16: Warriors 128, Portland 118. Curry 20, Podziemski 17. And on the 13th against these Lakers, Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg had 17 each.

3:43The analyst: Podziemski's 17s sit out tonight. The rookie's 17 is the one that travels. Lendeborg is who I'd watch next to Santos.

3:51The host: Tip-off is tonight in Los Angeles, on ESPN. Both teams come in on four days' rest, so nobody gets to blame legs.

4:00The analyst: Kerr has to think past tonight, though. Grizzlies on October 23, at Phoenix on the 24th. Al Horford is 40. He can't empty that tank in the opener.

4:09The host: And one thing broke today. HoopsRumors reports the Warriors are exploring trade avenues for Kristaps Porziņģis. Exploring. Nothing is done.

4:19The analyst: He's $19.5M on a $219.8M payroll, above the first apron, with the tax line at $200.4M. Out since September 28, cause still undisclosed. The firsts they own in 2027, 2028 and 2029 are the chips. The 2030 first already belongs to Memphis, protected.

4:45The host: Watch who Kerr puts on Dončić in the first five minutes, because that's the whole plan in one decision. Every number from the opener lands in the Warriors section on Hoops Nightly.

4:56The analyst: Tomorrow morning I'm checking one line: how many minutes Gui Santos played, and whether that left knee shows up on the report again.