Examining Warriors' Roster Depth In The Wake Of Kevon Looney's Departure

The Golden State Warriors were widely expected to be one of the most aggressive teams in the trade and free agency markets heading into the offseason. But their silence on the first day of free agency has been quite concerning, especially with a key role player in Kevon Looney departing for the New Orleans Pelicans.

With Looney headed out, the Dubs see one of their most productive centers leave the side, leaving the frontcourt rotation shorthanded. Although the team indicated some intention towards developing their young talent, with players such as Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis becoming beneficiaries of this, not having a hardworking veteran in their big man lineup could be detrimental.

The Warriors are still expected to make some significant moves, primarily aimed towards improving their wing depth and adding a legitimate big man. As things stand, however, the Dubs simply have not made the necessary moves to secure these objectives.

With effectively no signings made and uncertainty looming with regard to Jonathan Kuminga's future as well, we examine the state of the Warriors' roster depth.

PG - Stephen Curry

SG - Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody

SF - Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga

PF - Draymond Green, Gui Santos

C - Quentin Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis

The Starters

Given the lack of changes made, the Warriors are likely to have the same rotation as last season. With Stephen Curry starting the point guard position, Golden State will still feature the greatest shooter of all-time running the show, having recorded an average of 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game last season.

To support Curry in the backcourt, the Warriors are likely to see Brandin Podziemski step into the starting slot. Podziemski had a solid set of performances last season, notching an average of 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. 

While he has been viewed as a trade asset as of late, if he remains with the team this season (which is viewed to be likely), he will be a mainstay in the rotation at the very least.

This paves the way for the frontcourt trio led by Jimmy Butler at small forward and Draymond Green at power forward. Butler's arrival last season effectively transformed the team. 

With an average of 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, Butler is an extremely productive forward, and given his ability to show up in big game situations, the Dubs are likely to look to him to be an integral member of the roster as well.

Meanwhile, Green remains the heart and soul of the team. Having earned an All-Defensive team selection last season, the forward remains one of the most capable defensive anchors in the game. Although undersized, Green is a tremendous presence on both ends of the floor, often acting as the primary facilitator for the team. His averages of 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game from last season will be crucial for the team.

In the starting center slot, the Warriors will see a massive hole left in the wake of Kevon Looney's departure. Regardless, Quinten Post appears to be the most likely candidate to fill the spot. The young sharpshooting big showed a lot of potential last season, averaging 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds on 44.9% shooting from the field and 40.8% from beyond the arc.

Although his rebounding figures leave a lot of room for improvement, the Dubs will hope to see him step into a bigger role with more responsibilities in the scenario that they cannot fulfill their offseason objectives.

The Bench

The Warriors' bench rotation appears to be decimated at this point. This is effectively due to the number of cap holds the team has, with several players entering free agency. While the uncertainty of Kuminga returning is a big problem, the Dubs have major crunches in their backcourt that need to be addressed first.

In the point guard slot, Golden State has virtually no available players, with Pat Spencer also entering the free agency market. This is a shocking development, to say the least. Although Podziemski is capable of switching over to playing the point, the lack of depth in the guard rotation is a huge concern.

In the shooting guard position, the Warriors enjoy a mild degree of flexibility with Buddy Hield and Moses Moody filling out the bench. Given that both players are also capable of playing the small forward position, there is a sense of reliability, but this also stands against the team's approach towards pivoting from the "small ball" tactic. 

It is also worth noting that Moody has been viewed as a trade asset for the most part, with a fair chance that he may not be returning with the team next season.

Gary Payton II, who has also been an integral piece of the franchise, is also among the list of free agents this offseason. While there is no inclination to re-sign him as yet, the Warriors could still use him as a sign-and-trade option to build up their roster depth.

In the frontcourt, Jonathan Kuminga, Gui Santos, and Trayce Jackson-Davis are the only pieces worth taking note of. 

Kuminga's place on the side is questionable primarily because he is on the bench. His aspirations of becoming an All-Star cannot be met given his current standing, and with the forward also not being a part of the team's plans, as mentioned by Steve Kerr, his departure seems more likely.

Santos and Jackson-Davis have shown some upside with their mobility and energy. But considering the team's title aspirations, a frontcourt rotation with the two playing significant minutes may not inspire as much confidence.

What Is Next For The Warriors?

The Warriors' roster is in obvious need of development. Given how the organization is run, it is highly unlikely that this will be the end product, but the lack of movement is mildly concerning.

The Dubs have been linked in trade rumors to some veteran big men as well. Although Brook Lopez's signing with the Los Angeles Clippers does put a damper on their plans, the team has been heavily linked with Al Horford.

The need to build depth in the roster is essential, with the backcourt demanding particular attention at this stage. With a lot of offseason left to go, it will be interesting to see what the Warriors' front office can produce before the season kicks off.