Golden State Warriors: The most difficult to project player ahead of next season

The Golden State Warriors’ decision to trade Jordan Poole for Chris Paul last month undoubtedly signaled a greater win-now approach as they seek to recapture championship glory next season.

As such, the franchise rid themselves of a talented but mistake-ridden young guard, securing more of a consistent, known commodity in the 38-year-old Paul. While the fit of the 12-time All-Star within the Warrior system is yet to be seen, there’s a reasonable consensus on what he and Golden State’s other veterans — Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney — bring to the floor on a nightly basis.

After a major swing in role during the postseason, it’s difficult to project what Moses Moody will bring to the Golden State Warriors next season.

Of the Warrior younger players, most look at Jonathan Kuminga as the wildcard in the team’s chances of rediscovering the top mantle next season. However, you could make the argument his third-year teammate, Moses Moody, is just as pivotal.

Moody’s 2022-23 season was perhaps the strangest of any Golden State player. He spent time in the G League and lacked playing opportunity during a disappointing regular season, before being thrust into significant minutes during the Warriors’ postseason run.

The 21-year-old averaged 4.8 points in 13 minutes during the regular season, but that jumped to 5.8 points in 13.4 minutes during the playoffs. That’s unusual for a second-year player who often see their minutes diminished ala Kuminga.

Moody’s up-and-down season makes it somewhat difficult to place an accurate projection or expectation on what he’ll deliver in 2023-24. How much do you read into what was a promising but still very brief playoff period?

There has to be some caution applied here — Moody garnered meaningful minutes in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks in his rookie season. He played well and as a result, heading into last season many saw him as an automatic 15+ minute per game player in Steve Kerr’s rotation.

That expectation only made the reality more disappointing, even if most believed Moody deserved more opportunity than he received. Take a glass half full approach though and you’d believe with another offseason to work on his craft, and with Golden State losing Donte DiVincenzo in free agency, there’s an obvious role for Moody to step into.

What does that look like? Anything less than 15 minutes a night and that would be disappointing to the point of questioning his future with the franchise. Is 20 minutes per game a stretch? Not if we see more of what we did in the playoffs, particularly given the Warriors’ aging core who will no doubt see plenty of rest during the regular season.

Part of Golden State’s issues last season were the early struggles of the team’s younger players, with Moody, James Wiseman and even Kuminga struggling to make the impact many saw forthcoming. While the franchise has leant further into experience and their championship trio of Curry, Green and Thompson, Moody and Kuminga still provide the upside that could ultimately take this team back to the mountaintop next season.