The Golden State Warriors concluded their offseason with a flurry of key acquisitions. After a period of inactivity, the team secured Al Horford, De`Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II. Additionally, Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million extension (with a team option for the second year), and Seth Curry will reunite with his brother Stephen in the Bay Area.
These late-offseason moves have finalized a roster that, while strong, is notably seasoned. The Warriors are poised to make history by becoming the first NBA team ever to feature four starters aged 35 or older on opening night.
The core of this veteran lineup includes Al Horford (39), Stephen Curry (37), Jimmy Butler (36), and Draymond Green (35). Should 22-year-old Brandin Podziemski fill the fifth starting spot, the average age of this unit would be 33.8 years. Utilizing other potential starters like Moses Moody, De`Anthony Melton, or Buddy Hield would push that average even higher.
In an NBA context, this starting five is remarkably veteran, representing the league`s oldest projected lineup for the upcoming season. It significantly surpasses even the Los Angeles Clippers` anticipated starting unit of James Harden, Bradley Beal, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac, which boasts an average age of 31.6.
While the Clippers maintain the league`s oldest overall roster at an average of 33.2 years (a historical record, per Tom Haberstroh), the Warriors possess a younger bench. Nevertheless, Golden State`s starting five will undeniably showcase a wealth of experience this season.
It`s crucial to acknowledge that contemporary athletes benefit from advancements in sports science, technology, and strategic rest, enabling them to maintain peak or near-peak performance for extended careers. Therefore, age, in isolation, can often be an overemphasized factor.
While age isn`t entirely inconsequential, as it does elevate injury risk, the Warriors` contention in the Western Conference playoffs will undoubtedly hinge on their health – a prerequisite, however, for any aspiring championship team.
Fundamentally, this is a highly capable team, particularly its starting unit. Last season, the four-man combination of Curry, Butler, Green, and Podziemski outscored opponents by an impressive 15 points per 100 possessions. The most frequently deployed lineup, including Moody as the fifth starter (logging 459 possessions), achieved an even more dominant 17.9 points per 100 possessions differential, according to Cleaning the Glass. Substituting Horford for Moody would undoubtedly create an exceptionally formidable starting five.
It`s difficult to overstate the significance of Al Horford`s arrival. Historically, the Warriors have not had the luxury of a center capable of consistently shooting, relying on bigs like Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, or most recently, Kevon Looney.
For years, coach Steve Kerr has had to meticulously construct his lineups, prioritizing shooting from three starting positions alongside Draymond Green and the center. This challenge was manageable with Klay Thompson, but it intensified significantly after Thompson`s departure and the addition of Jimmy Butler, another non-shooter.
This strategic constraint partly explains Jonathan Kuminga`s reduced role in the rotation. Kerr found it challenging to deploy him in significant minutes alongside Butler and Green, as this created a lineup with three non-shooters, escalating to four with the addition of a traditional center. Such a configuration severely compromises offensive spacing.
In fact, Quentin Post emerged as a contributor primarily because of his shooting ability as a big man, though his defensive presence was often a trade-off. Horford, however, offers the rare combination of both shooting and strong defense, in addition to being an ideal offensive facilitator within Golden State`s read-and-react system, crucial for freeing Stephen Curry off-ball.
With Al Horford on the roster, Coach Kerr can now confidently utilize Jonathan Kuminga alongside Jimmy Butler, a pairing he largely avoided last season due to its inherent shooting deficiencies. Horford, combined with two other perimeter threats – be it Curry, Podziemski, Hield, Melton, or Moody – significantly enhances the viability of a Kuminga-Butler lineup.
This enhanced flexibility is just one illustration of the numerous lineup options Horford provides Kerr. Despite being 39 years old, his presence is truly transformative for a team that was on the verge of championship contention last season before Stephen Curry`s injury in the conference semifinals.
Indeed, the Warriors are a veteran squad, earning the playful, editor-coined nickname “Olden State.” However, this label belies their potent capabilities. Stephen Curry remains an All-NBA caliber talent. Last season, following his trade-deadline arrival, Jimmy Butler quickly established himself as one of the league`s premier secondary stars; the Warriors, a .500 team before his debut, finished the regular season with an impressive 23-7 record in games he played.
Concurrently, Draymond Green and Al Horford continue to perform at an All-Defense level while also serving as highly adept facilitators. The team boasts a deep bench, exceptional basketball IQ, and an unparalleled collective experience of 10 championships among its projected starters. Despite the late flurry of activity, Golden State successfully navigated a highly productive offseason.
