The Golden State Warriors' roster would appear to be set heading into opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers next week, but Steve Kerr has left the door ajar for a last minute move in his comments on Thursday.
Kerr declared all three players with non-guaranteed contracts -- Georges Niang, Charles Bassey and Brandon Williams would be on the opening night roster -- but stopped short of confirming that everything is set less than a week out from facing the Lakers.
Steve Kerr leaves door slightly ajar for last minute Warriors move
"I don't think I can quite answer that. Just based on not having the facts in front of me. I still have to have to have conversations with Mike about everything that's going on," Kerr said to the San Francisco Chronicle's Luca Evans about the opening night roster.
There's not really anything the Warriors can do though aside from a very last minute trade -- something that would be incredibly unlikely but perhaps shouldn't be totally ruled out based on Kerr's comments.
Golden State could try and open a roster spot for Dalen Terry who has impressed over preseason, but there's not particularly a trade-eligible player who fits the bill for a such a move. The former first-round pick will almost certainly have to head to Santa Cruz, play in the G League and hope that another NBA opportunity comes his way whether with the Warriors or elsewhere.
Nine players on Golden State's roster are ineligible to be traded right now after recently signing new contracts. Those players are headlines by Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski who recently agreed to extensions, while Draymond Green, Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, Williams, Niang and Bassey all signed in free agency.
Warriors only have six trade-eligible players right now
The Warriors are left with only six players who can be traded, and therefore who represent the only means to a roster change coming over the next few days. 11th overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg is effectively no chance of being traded unless there's an unforeseen blockbuster trade, one that might also involve Jimmy Butler and his $56.8 million expiring contract.
Like Butler, Moses Moody is recovering from a long-term knee injury but remains trade-eligible. It's impossible to see Gui Santos being moved given he's headed for a starting role on opening night, while Will Richard represents the player most at risk if Golden State want to open a roster spot -- still seems highly unlikely.
Kristaps Porzingis is the great unknown surrounding the Warriors at present. In an ideal world the front office may trade him, potentially in addition to draft capital, to get a player of value in return, but it's hard to see any rival team taking on the veteran center after his latest health concern.
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