The Golden State Warriors tip off their season against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, but already they're facing a thin center rotation that's pushing them into a mid-season move.
The Warriors will be without Kristaps Porzingis who remains sidelined by another mysterious illness, while reserve center Charles Bassey is dealing with knee tendinitis that has him questionable for Wednesday's matchup.
Warriors need to look at center trade before season even begins
Golden State's center options now consist of 40-year-old Al Horford who will be on managed minutes, along with two-way big man Graham Ike who Steve Kerr may legitimately have to go to in the season opener, particularly if they need size against Lakers' behemoth Walker Kessler.
The Warriors will also be left with the small-ball options of Draymond Green and Yaxel Lendeborg. While that may work effectively against certain teams and in specific matchups, it's not a burden the team should want to place on a 36-year-old veteran and/or rookie forward who will also have significant offensive responsibilities.
Porzingis' absence truly puts Golden State in a bind, yet it's one they knew was a possibility when they extended the former All-Star to a two-year, $40 million contract prior to free agency. The idea of Porzingis on this Warrior team is perfect in theory, but the reality is that he hasn't played more than 65 games in a season for a decade.
How long can the Warriors go with a center rotation of an absent Porzingis, aging Horford who won't play back-to-backs, an unproven Bassey who might have to manage a knee injury, and the two-way contracted Ike? The answer is not long.
Warriors need to find an insurance measure at center
Golden State will surely be indentifying the need for either a far better insurance measure while Porzingis remains out, or a genuine upgrade to a starting-calibre player who can provide more reliable availability than what the Latvian delivers.
With Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, De'Anthony Melton and Brandon Williams, the Warriors' guard depth looks okay. So too their forward depth once Butler returns, with a strong combination of he, Lendeborg, Green and Gui Santos.
The center spot is a clear weakness the front office surely need to address, otherwise they'll be left praying for a Porzingis miracle and once again leaning on small-ball options that shouldn't be considered a long-term solution if the Warriors want to land success.
Add us as a preferred source on Google