The Golden State Warriors have rounded out their squad on Tuesday after signing Brandon Williams and Georges Niang to fill their remaining two available roster spots.
The Warriors still have one two-way contract spot they can utilize, but barring any unforeseen trade over the remainder of the offseason, this is the roster we're going to see come opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21.
Warriors final roster, projected rotation after Williams and Niang signings
Golden State will start on the back-foot given long-term knee injures to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, but they do have enough depth to offer optimism they can keep their heads above water until the key duo return mid-season.
Let's dive into the final roster and the aforementioned depth after Williams and Niang were added on Tuesday:
Point Guard: Stephen Curry, Brandon Williams, LJ Cryer (two-way)
There's still too much pressure on a 38-year-old Stephen Curry entering his 18th NBA season, but the Warriors at least relieved some of that on Tuesday by signing Williams as a backup option who averaged 13 points with the Dallas Mavericks last season.
Williams might be a legitimate source of offense in non-Curry minutes until Butler returns from injury, while Cryer has already shown enough to suggest he could make an impact with his elite 3-point shooting.
Shooting Guard: Brandin Podziemski, De'Anthony Melton, Will Richard, Gary Payton II, Moses Moody*
Perhaps the strongest area of depth again for Golden State, likely leaving some of these players sliding up and down positions. There will be times where Podziemski or Melton take more ball-handling responsibilities as point guards, while Payton plays as more of a big man than a shooting guard despite his 6'2" height.
Small Forward: Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos, Malevy Leons (two-way), Jimmy Butler*
The Warriors have some legitimate size in their frontcourt which should bring a nice change to what we've seen with smaller lineups in recent years. Lendeborg and Santos are just as suited to playing the four as the three, but both have the versatility and two-way impact to suggest they can cover most of the small forward minutes until Butler returns from injury.
Power Forward: Draymond Green, Georges Niang
Green's role will be fascinating with uncertainty over his future leading into the season, but he'll likely remain a starter given his defensive prowess and trust from Kerr. Niang offers something different as a stretch four who's a career 40% 3-point shooter, giving the Warriors a reasonable four-man forward combination until Butler returns.
Center: Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Charles Bassey
There's plenty of risk here with the injury history of all three players, but that's also the reality of the entire Golden State roster. The Warriors will be desperate to get 55+ games from Porzingis after re-signing him to a two-year, $40 million contract, while also bringing back the 40-year-old Horford on a two-year deal. Bassey should see plenty of minutes as a third big who offers interior presence to complement the floor-spacing of the former Boston Celtics duo.
*Will start the season on the sidelines injured
Projected Starting Five: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis
Curry and Porzingis might be the only two locks in the starting five at this stage just under two months out from opening night. Santos and Lendeborg will battle for a starting role, while there's an argument that both should start ahead of Green but that would seem unlikely heading into training camp. Podziemski and Melton will be the other major watch in preseason as both have strong arguments to joining Curry in the backcourt.
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