And the Roster Will Be...

[EvanZ]

There's absolutely no way you can start Melton and expect him to stay healthy for a full season. He gets the GPII treatment or worse. Dude should basically be break glass in case of emergency.

I mean when you pay a guy the vet min, you play him like a vet min. Otto started 15 games and averaged 22 mpg. That's about what I think we can expect from Melton. If you overuse him, he'll just go down again.

Moody should start imo.

[TB]

If its Podz and Melton I’d start Podz.

Better for his development and dubs future (even this year).
Better to ease in Melton off injury.
Better to have Podz already in that role if Melton gets injured again.
Better to have Podz defend POA while Jimmy/Dray/Horford are behind him and not Post/JK/Trayce/etc.

He already has proven that he plays well next to Steph so its not like its an unknown situation. And obviously it means Steph gets Melton alongside him if he plays any minutes with backups, which is a huge step up vs some of the guards we have used recently. It’s also why I think its important to get another point guard like Morris or at least a Seth/Melton backup combo guards so that Podz isn’t required to be backup PG.

I think it’s best for podz development to get those backup pg minutes though. He needs to explore being able to create more advantages for himself and others and with Jimmy and dray and horford he doesn’t really have to create everything for everyone. Plus the podz moody jb dray post minutes were great last year.

While I agree that Podz needs to continue to develop his PG skills, I don’t want to go into this year like we did last year expecting him to be the backup PG. He’s best as a do it all connector like a Andre, Hart, Donte, etc. Even with him starting at SG and having another real backup PG on the team, he will get minutes as the primary ball handler throughout the year.

[TB]

There's absolutely no way you can start Melton and expect him to stay healthy for a full season. He gets the GPII treatment or worse. Dude should basically be break glass in case of emergency.

I mean when you pay a guy the vet min, you play him like a vet min. Otto started 15 games and averaged 22 mpg. That's about what I think we can expect from Melton. If you overuse him, he'll just go down again.

Moody should start imo.

Agreed. I’d like Melton/GP2 both on the team hoping to get as many combined games as possible from them. Hopefully their time on the training room table offsets each other.

We will see what happens with JK, but Moody/Horford as the 5th guy based on going big or small could be really good. Steph/Podz/Moody/Jimmy/Dray were +18 net in over 200 minutes together…. insanely good. Why Kerr went away from it as the playoffs came around is quite the head-scratcher. And Moody can easily slide down to SG to replace a guard if needed, since Jimmy/Dray provide plenty of ball handling cover.

[Senchu]

Podz and Moody both had injuries

[HiRez]

Podz and Moody both had injuries

Other than if Kuminga is traded or not (and who is coming back), that's my biggest X-factor for the season. If those 2 guys had their shooting hampered by injuries and now they're healthy and start shooting like 38%+ from deep consistently, that drastically changes the outlook. If it's a permanent regression, well, I don't see the team going anywhere without more shooting. Post is also going to be important, hard to tell which way it's going to go, he could be improved or he could be a disaster, lots of players struggle in their second year trying to make adjustments and change their workout regiment.

[Onus]

If its Podz and Melton I’d start Podz.

Better for his development and dubs future (even this year).
Better to ease in Melton off injury.
Better to have Podz already in that role if Melton gets injured again.
Better to have Podz defend POA while Jimmy/Dray/Horford are behind him and not Post/JK/Trayce/etc.

He already has proven that he plays well next to Steph so its not like its an unknown situation. And obviously it means Steph gets Melton alongside him if he plays any minutes with backups, which is a huge step up vs some of the guards we have used recently. It’s also why I think its important to get another point guard like Morris or at least a Seth/Melton backup combo guards so that Podz isn’t required to be backup PG.

I think it’s best for podz development to get those backup pg minutes though. He needs to explore being able to create more advantages for himself and others and with Jimmy and dray and horford he doesn’t really have to create everything for everyone. Plus the podz moody jb dray post minutes were great last year.

While I agree that Podz needs to continue to develop his PG skills, I don’t want to go into this year like we did last year expecting him to be the backup PG. He’s best as a do it all connector like a Andre, Hart, Donte, etc. Even with him starting at SG and having another real backup PG on the team, he will get minutes as the primary ball handler throughout the year.

Yea Podz works much better as a 2nd option attacking closeouts rather than being the initial attacker. But Monte Morris meh, he's a worse schroeder and that didn't work at all. I think if we don't get Brogdon we'll probably have Taran be the 3rd pg, which I dont love. Kind of feel like LJ Cryer can do it as long as one of Jimmy or Dray are on the court.

[EvanZ]

There's absolutely no way you can start Melton and expect him to stay healthy for a full season. He gets the GPII treatment or worse. Dude should basically be break glass in case of emergency.

I mean when you pay a guy the vet min, you play him like a vet min. Otto started 15 games and averaged 22 mpg. That's about what I think we can expect from Melton. If you overuse him, he'll just go down again.

Moody should start imo.

Agreed. I’d like Melton/GP2 both on the team hoping to get as many combined games as possible from them. Hopefully their time on the training room table offsets each other.

We will see what happens with JK, but Moody/Horford as the 5th guy based on going big or small could be really good. Steph/Podz/Moody/Jimmy/Dray were +18 net in over 200 minutes together…. insanely good. Why Kerr went away from it as the playoffs came around is quite the head-scratcher. And Moody can easily slide down to SG to replace a guard if needed, since Jimmy/Dray provide plenty of ball handling cover.

I want to see Steph/Moody/Jimmy/Dray/Horford as the closing lineup. Not saying it will happen, but I feel like there's enough shooting and passing in this group that we don't need to go super small. This could be our best chance of having both size and spacing on the court.

[HiRez]

There's absolutely no way you can start Melton and expect him to stay healthy for a full season. He gets the GPII treatment or worse. Dude should basically be break glass in case of emergency.

I mean when you pay a guy the vet min, you play him like a vet min. Otto started 15 games and averaged 22 mpg. That's about what I think we can expect from Melton. If you overuse him, he'll just go down again.

Moody should start imo.

Agreed. I’d like Melton/GP2 both on the team hoping to get as many combined games as possible from them. Hopefully their time on the training room table offsets each other.

We will see what happens with JK, but Moody/Horford as the 5th guy based on going big or small could be really good. Steph/Podz/Moody/Jimmy/Dray were +18 net in over 200 minutes together…. insanely good. Why Kerr went away from it as the playoffs came around is quite the head-scratcher. And Moody can easily slide down to SG to replace a guard if needed, since Jimmy/Dray provide plenty of ball handling cover.

I want to see Steph/Moody/Jimmy/Dray/Horford as the closing lineup. Not saying it will happen, but I feel like there's enough shooting and passing in this group that we don't need to go super small. This could be our best chance of having both size and spacing on the court.

Moody is kind of the swing factor there. And I still don't like Jimmy and Draymond together, yes they are both elite at various things, but that's 2 guys who are just going to either not shoot from outside or shoot a low % most of the time. No one in the league is coming out to guard them anyway so there's no spacing being created even if they're hitting their shots. And I don't think you need 2 non-guard playmakers in the lineup at the same time.

In terms of closing, Draymond is going to occasionally make an incredible, game-saving defensive play...but he's also prone to untimely, back-breaking turnovers, key missed free throws, blown layups, technical/flagrant fouls, arguing with the refs while play continues in transition, and goading Kerr into taking lost-cause challenges.

[EvanZ]

Agreed. I’d like Melton/GP2 both on the team hoping to get as many combined games as possible from them. Hopefully their time on the training room table offsets each other.

We will see what happens with JK, but Moody/Horford as the 5th guy based on going big or small could be really good. Steph/Podz/Moody/Jimmy/Dray were +18 net in over 200 minutes together…. insanely good. Why Kerr went away from it as the playoffs came around is quite the head-scratcher. And Moody can easily slide down to SG to replace a guard if needed, since Jimmy/Dray provide plenty of ball handling cover.

I want to see Steph/Moody/Jimmy/Dray/Horford as the closing lineup. Not saying it will happen, but I feel like there's enough shooting and passing in this group that we don't need to go super small. This could be our best chance of having both size and spacing on the court.

Moody is kind of the swing factor there. And I still don't like Jimmy and Draymond together, yes they are both elite at various things, but that's 2 guys who are just going to either not shoot from outside or shoot a low % most of the time. No one in the league is coming out to guard them anyway so there's no spacing being created even if they're hitting their shots. And I don't think you need 2 non-guard playmakers in the lineup at the same time.

In terms of closing, Draymond is going to occasionally make an incredible, game-saving defensive play...but he's also prone to untimely, back-breaking turnovers, key missed free throws, blown layups, technical/flagrant fouls, arguing with the refs while play continues in transition, and goading Kerr into taking lost-cause challenges.

It's going to be a long year for you mate.

[HiRez]

I want to see Steph/Moody/Jimmy/Dray/Horford as the closing lineup. Not saying it will happen, but I feel like there's enough shooting and passing in this group that we don't need to go super small. This could be our best chance of having both size and spacing on the court.

Moody is kind of the swing factor there. And I still don't like Jimmy and Draymond together, yes they are both elite at various things, but that's 2 guys who are just going to either not shoot from outside or shoot a low % most of the time. No one in the league is coming out to guard them anyway so there's no spacing being created even if they're hitting their shots. And I don't think you need 2 non-guard playmakers in the lineup at the same time.

In terms of closing, Draymond is going to occasionally make an incredible, game-saving defensive play...but he's also prone to untimely, back-breaking turnovers, key missed free throws, blown layups, technical/flagrant fouls, arguing with the refs while play continues in transition, and goading Kerr into taking lost-cause challenges.

It's going to be a long year for you mate.

Hah, I know, I know. But like a car wreck on the side of the road, I can't look away. I kind of felt like chasing championships was likely over a couple years ago anyway, so I'm going to try to just not get too stressed about it...lower expectations and all, just enjoy watching Steph while I still can.

[Nvnervous45]

My only hope is dubs become the oldest team to win a championship. That would be a hellava storyline, however improbable.

[Onus]

People are absolutely sleeping on buddy closing. Unless moody, podz and horford become snipers buddy might be a playoff hero again.

[HiRez]

People are absolutely sleeping on buddy closing. Unless moody, podz and horford become snipers buddy might be a playoff hero again.

Buddy feels a lot more likely than Moody to me. I wouldn't even be shocked if Kerr adds another guard like Podz or Melton and pushes Horford out of that lineup.

[Twinkie defense]

There's absolutely no way you can start Melton and expect him to stay healthy for a full season. He gets the GPII treatment or worse. Dude should basically be break glass in case of emergency.

I mean when you pay a guy the vet min, you play him like a vet min. Otto started 15 games and averaged 22 mpg. That's about what I think we can expect from Melton. If you overuse him, he'll just go down again.

Moody should start imo.

Moody is a four

[Onus]

People are absolutely sleeping on buddy closing. Unless moody, podz and horford become snipers buddy might be a playoff hero again.

Buddy feels a lot more likely than Moody to me. I wouldn't even be shocked if Kerr adds another guard like Podz or Melton and pushes Horford out of that lineup.

It's very likely it'll be Curry/Jimmy/Dray and then 2 of Podz or Melton or Buddy or Moody or Horford. But I think it's likely to be Podz, Melton or Horford depending on matchups. But if Melton doesn't stay healthy then Buddy will take his place.

[Twinkie defense]

The starting lineup will include Steph, Jimmy, Dray, and Horford. Who is the fifth? I'm thinking Melton (see: last season) but it could be Podz.

[EvanZ]

Everyone is sleeping on Moody. He was closing games after the Jimmy trade until he hurt his wrist. That derailed him. When healthy he is the fourth best player on this team. Y'all gonna have to learn it again.

[Twinkie defense]

Everyone is sleeping on Moody. He was closing games after the Jimmy trade until he hurt his wrist. That derailed him. When healthy he is the fourth best player on this team. Y'all gonna have to learn it again.

You're gonna get him traded in a salary dump, aren't you?

[AirP.]

Everyone is sleeping on Moody. He was closing games after the Jimmy trade until he hurt his wrist. That derailed him. When healthy he is the fourth best player on this team. Y'all gonna have to learn it again.

Moody said the injury (torn thumb ligament) happened in the Bucks game in March.
With Butler and before injury...
Moody - .376 3pt% on 5 attempts per game.
After the injury with Butler...
Moody - .303 3pt% on 4.7 attempts per game.

A little more context, Moody started really hitting his stride before Butler showed up on Feb 8th. In January (before Butler) Moody put up 5.3 3s a game and hit them at a .425 rate and his calculated ORTG jumped from his normal month to month ~107 to 116 in January, with Butler in February Moody's calculated ORTG jumped up to 125. A healthy Moody looks like a very good rotation player ready to play a defensive/3pt shooting role.

“It was really tough,” Moody said. “I didn’t know it was torn at that point, but I couldn’t really use it and it hurt to catch the ball, to dribble the ball, all of that type of stuff.”

However, the injury—which Moody says occurred during a March matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks—led to a noticeable dip in production, most evident during the playoffs, where he shot just 35% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc across 12 postseason games.

https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2025/7/22/24472617/dub-hub-moses-moody-explains-how-his-hand-injury-limited-him-late-last-season-warriors

[The-Power]

It's all tiny samples. At this point, Moody is pretty clearly a generally capable but ultimately mediocre shooter and that should be our expectation of him no matter how you want to slice it up to make him look more or less than that.