May 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors power forward Carl Landry (7) celebrates after a basket against the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter of game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Nuggets 92-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors face a couple major decisions this summer regarding two of their primary bench contributors: Carl Landry and Jarrett Jack.

Jack doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to make up his mind. Of course, he won’t be able to sign a new deal until July 1 when free agency opens. But players often like to stir up controversy by slipping bits of hints to the media, and Jack’s mindset hasn’t changed: He wants to remain with the Warriors.

Landry’s situation is a tad more different because he owns a player option worth $4 million, and General manager Bob Meyers hasn’t asked Landry if he’ll pick up his option, reports Kyle Bonagura.

Bob Myers hasn’t asked Landry if he’ll pick up his option: “There are some you can speculate on… Brandon Rush will probably pick his up.”

— Kyle Bonagura (@KyleBonagura) May 20, 2013

However, Golden State may approach him sooner rather than later so they can start crafting their offseason plan. In other news, Bonagura’s tweet does reveal that Meyers and company are confident that Brandon Rush will pick up his $4 million player option, which isn’t much of a surprise given that Rush is coming off a brutal injury in which he tore his MCL and ACL in his left knee. His value will need to be rebuilt before he seeks anything bigger.

Winning does bring important decisions, and Landry’s situation is no bigger to the Warriors. And while the Warriors did have a tight-knit group, this is a business, after all.

Rush’s injury affected the Golden State Warriors’ opening night affair against the Memphis Grizzlies on three very immediate levels. First, it sucked the air out of a raucous Oracle arena. The haze from the introductory pyrotechnics had hardly cleared when Rush went down, and a symbolic one hung over the assembled 19, 556 for the duration of the contest.

Second, Rush’s absence left the Warriors without an answer for Memphis’ Rudy Gay, who assumed control of the game for lengthy stretches in the second half. Harrison Barnes was too green and Klay Thompson lacked the size and athleticism to stick with Gay, whose every move seemed to raise the question: What on earth has kept this guy from All-NBA teams?

Third, it shifted the Warriors’ projected rotation in a way that is going to require much heavier minutes from Jarrett Jack. The Dub’s projected backup point guard logged 27 minutes and was often paired with Stephen Curry in the backcourt. Yes, the Warriors found yet another way to play small. Wonders never cease. This lineup construction was both necessary and well conceived, though. Jack lets Curry play off the ball, a role in which he is vastly more effective.

The cumulative result of those three Rush-related ripples was a 104-94 loss. Of course, Rush’s unavailability wasn’t the leading cause of the defeat—that distinction goes to a still woefully predictable offense that doesn’t create defensive switches or easy shots at the rim. But Rush’s absence is going to matter in a major way.

It forces Harrison Barnes to grow up faster. It means Klay Thompson can’t just be a shooter. And it means that everybody on the wings is going to have to rebound.

The Brandon Rush Ripple Effect is going to be a far-reaching thing. It probably costs the Warriors a win or two on the season and it certainly also serves as a reminder that nothing’s promised in an NBA season.