Warriors Could Create Death Lineup With Two Smart Moves

The biggest priority for the Golden State Warriors this offseason has been signing a reliable big man. Having changed their outlook to the "small ball" approach, the Warriors committed to acquiring a center.

While this attempt hasn't yielded much success thus far, the Dubs have reportedly shown a keen interest in signing former Boston Celtics center Al Horford in free agency.

Horford's decision to become a free agent garnered a lot of attention from teams around the league, with even the Celtics hoping to re-sign him. At this stage, the Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be the frontrunners to sign the 39-year-old big man.

Last season, Horford notched an average of 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds on shooting splits of 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range while coming off the bench for the Celtics. 

The veteran big could be an ideal fit in Golden State's system. Horford's versatility as an offensive player allows him to contribute in multiple situations. From his post play to his three-point shooting, the 5x All-Star has all the right tools to be a core rotation player on the Warriors.

Signing Horford to a veteran's minimum deal would be in the Warriors' interest, especially considering his age. Horford's experience, championship pedigree, and overall smarts make him an invaluable asset. By placing him in a lineup with the Warriors' starters, the veteran would undoubtedly have a big impact on the team's output.

Sign Damian Lillard With The Mid-Level Exception

Another interesting move the Warriors could make in the offseason is to sign Damian Lillard in free agency. While this decision could raise some eyebrows in the immediate context, there is some merit to this move.

Lillard recently entered the free-agent market after being waived and stretched by the Milwaukee Bucks. With the Bucks absorbing the $112.5 million owed to him, Lillard is expected to earn approximately $22 million a season for the next five years. This creates an intriguing situation for the 9x All-Star.

As things stand, several teams are hesitant to take a chance on Lillard. This is primarily because the guard will be sidelined for most of the 2025-26 season as he recovers from an Achilles injury. With no guarantee of availability, teams wouldn't see any benefit from acquiring him immediately.

But, as Lillard claims, he is the "jackpot". Last season, the guard recorded an average of 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. While being extremely productive, the 34-year-old remains a deadly shooter from beyond the arc, having shot 37.6% from three-point range.

The notion of signing Lillard to a short-term deal with the MLE would be of interest to Golden State. With the guard still earning a substantial amount of money over the next five seasons, Lillard could also be inclined to take a temporary pay cut to play on a title-contending roster.

The backcourt pairing of Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard could herald a new era, the "Splash Bros 2.0". But this would only come to fruition after Lillard completes his recovery journey.

The Warriors' Potential Death Lineup Would Be Old

The Golden State Warriors' core already features a proven rotation of Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. Considering that their postseason campaign was only derailed because of an injury sustained by Curry, it is fair to say that the Warriors have another run in them.

The signings of Lillard and Horford would do wonders in boosting the team's overall depth, and the death lineup would undoubtedly be a formidable one. But it is also safe to say that it would be an aging lineup by the time it becomes a reality.

With Lillard effectively sidelined for next season, the Warriors' potential death lineup would only come into effect in the 2026-27 season. By this time, Curry would be 38, Green would be 36, Butler would be 36, Lillard would be 35, and Horford would be 40. 

A team this old may have a lot of experience and grit, but it would be a challenge to keep up with some of the younger teams in the league. Given the need to win right away, the Warriors may explore other options to improve their roster depth instead.