Fans of the Golden State Warriors have had plenty of room for disappointment this offseason.
The team is essentially returning the same roster as last season apart from the addition of first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg. They re-signed Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II this offseason while proffering Draymond Green the entirety of the $27.7 million he would've been owed on his player option in 2026-27.
There may still be one or two veteran signings left in the works for Golden State. But for the most part, this team will be the same— with the same pitfalls and the same lingering concerns.
But there's reason to believe this was the plan all along for Mike Dunleavy and company. As Monte Poole at NBC Sports Bay Area recently pointed out, the Warriors' financial flexibility next offseason means that they likely intend to line 2026-27 up as a sort of 'gap year'.
"The Warriors anticipate evaluating the first half of the season while awaiting the midseason returns of Butler and Moody. Meanwhile, Dunleavy & Co. still have some latitude with the roster. But it’s hard to fathom striking gold in August or September. Dub Nation had been warned that 2026-27 was lining up as a “gap year.” The offseason focus would be on internal development rather than external additions. Do not expect gifts in July. None came." Monte Poole, NBC Sports Bay Area
Poole is right, but the overreactions to his argument across social media are missing the point. The Warriors can afford a year without a true path to contention, but they still need to show Stephen Curry that this team has gas left in the tank as his extension looms.
The Warriors can afford to be out of contention— but they still need to prove their competitiveness to Stephen Curry
There's not a lot of room to argue against Poole's characterization of this upcoming season for Golden State. The Warriors were limited in their flexiblity this offseason, and the injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody didn't leave them much choice.
This roster, at best, is destined for the Play-In Tournament. Perhaps they can make some noise in the first or second round if Butler returns to relative full strength by the time they reach that point.
But this roster doesn't have enough depth to assume that throwing out a max contract or two next offseason will put them in the stratosphere of contention. At the very least, they need to see major development from Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, and Lendeborg. They need a clearer timeline on Moody's return, and they need a genuine evaluation of what they have available to them as trade chips.
The 'gap year' term is important to qualify, then, as Curry becomes eligible for a two-year extension on Aug. 29 worth up to $136.7 million.
With the current mix of veteran talent available on the roster, it's alright for the team to content itself with a play-in finish in 2026-27. But Curry has accomplished everything he needs during his 17 NBA seasons. He's a two-time MVP, a four-time champion, and a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer. If Golden State wants him to commit to two more years of taking the team onto his shoulders, they need to prove they have the infrastructure and a plan to make this team competitive again.
A 'gap year' for the Warriors, therefore, cannot involve bottoming out like the Indiana Pacers did last season. There needs to be some baseline of talent and development across the roster, and that's what the aim of this campaign should be for Golden State.
Poole's evaluation is 100% correct. But Curry needs more than a 'gap year' to keep him on this roster moving forward.
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