Although the Golden State Warriors' roster business has largely come to a close, their most pressing matter of the offseason is just getting started. Stephen Curry became eligible for an extension on Aug. 29, and the Warriors need to do everything within their power to get him signed for whatever duration he sees fit before the regular season kicks off.
There's not really any chance of Golden State losing Curry at this point in his career, at least not with the way things seem right now. But as they continue to re-shape this roster and figure out what the future of the organization looks like, having clarity on the rest of Curry's career is a necessity.
But the problems facing Golden State extend far beyond that. If Curry is going to re-sign, they need to have a long-term plan both for how to remain competitive during his tenure and how to rebuild when he ultimately decides to hang his jersey up. He's the center of the Warriors' universe, and every player on the roster revolves around his decisions.
As Golden State enters a period of transition, here are the three players with the most to lose— especially in 2026-27.
4 players with exceptionally high stakes on the line for the Warriors
1. Draymond Green
Green had the worst offensive season of his career (apart from his rookie campaign) in 2025-26, averaging just 8.4 points and shooting 41.8% from the floor across 68 games.
He ultimately got the full value of his player option—a whopping $27.7 million—even after he set it to the side in Golden State's attempt to lure LeBron James to The Bay Area. But that, more than anything else, makes him a valuable trade piece heading into 2026-27 simply from a standpoint of contract value. He'll need to hang onto his starting role and show massive improvement in his offensive efficiency if he wants to remain with Golden State through the end of Curry's tenure, but even that might not be enough to save Green from what seems like, at the very least, something the Warriors will seriously entertain at the trade deadline.
If Green is back with Golden State after the expiration of this contract, it'll be at a significantly reduced value. It's largely a lose-lose situation for the veteran forward.
2. Brandin Podziemski
As much as there is for Podziemski to lose in 2026-27, there's also a lot for him to gain. It doesn't seem as though the Warriors are entertaining the idea of locking Podziemski down to an extension this offseason, and that's likely the right move. If he doesn't carry over the momentum he gained toward the end of last season in a depleted rotation, there's chance for him to quickly lose his starting spot to De'Anthony Melton— which will rapidly decrease his earning potential as a restricted free agent next offseason.
But if he's able to cut down on some of the inconsistencies and inefficiencies in his game over the course of 2026-27, he could secure his spot as a future cornerstone of this Warriors rotation on a deal somewhere in the range of $20-$23 million annually.
There's a wide range of outcomes for Podziemski, and much of his future will come down to how the Warriors see him both within the context of the Curry era and beyond it.
3. Kristaps Porzingis
On the surface, Porzingis got an excellent deal with the Warriors relative to his availability and performance last season. He inked a two-year, $40 million contract with Golden State this offseason, and the player option that was included gives him the flexibility to seek a pay raise if he has a major resurgence in 2026-27.
But here's the catch—only $3 million of the second year of his contract is guaranteed, and Porzingis has a long way to go before he can convince teams on the open market to offer him any sort of long-term security. His best bet is likely to carve out a continuous role with Golden State, staying healthy and establishing himself as a secondary or tertiary offensive option with his perimeter shooting and interior activity.
If Porzingis isn't consistent, though, and the Warriors are looking to leverage their cap flexibility next offseason to re-shape the roster around Curry, you can bet they'll be looking for another upgrade at the center position. 2026-27 represents Porzingis' chance to solidify himself as he enters the latter portions of his NBA career.
4. Yaxel Lendeborg
Lendeborg should be an immediately impactful presence in the Warriors rotation, and it seems like he's slated to start in the frontcourt alongside Green until Jimmy Butler returns. Unlike the other three players on this list, it's not his performance that will most directly determine what he gains or loses this season.
Lendeborg was the Warriors' highest draft selection since they picked Jonathan Kuminga seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he should have a long-term future here no matter how Curry's next contract unfolds. But right now, Lendeborg is set to play alongside a legend in Curry, and if the team wants to make the necessary moves next offseason to take one more swing at a championship run, he'll likely still have a major role to play. That's a desirable situation for any highly-drafted rookie, even if Golden State's future has some cloudiness to it.
But there's also a chance the team decides to tear things down early—and the Warriors' immediate rebuilding outlook is bleak, to say the least. There's a world where, by the second or third year of Lendeborg's rookie contract, Golden State is near the basement of the league.
Lendeborg does have a part to play in this. If he can show major development along with the rest of the roster this season, the front office may be more inclined to push for contention when the time comes. But ultimately, the fate of the organization is out of his hands.
He simply has to live with consequences as long as he's with Golden State.
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