Warriors star throws support behind team's fledgling young core

The Golden State Warriors have been steadily piecing together an exciting young core in recent years. Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody and Trayce Jackson-Davis all project to be key parts of Steve Kerr's rotation in the coming years, with Kuminga and Podziemski projecting to be All-Star-level talents. 

Earlier this summer, the Warriors balked at the Utah Jazz's asking price in a trade for Lauri Markkanen. Danny Ainge wanted at least two members of Golden State's future rotation as part of a deal to send their All-Star forward to the Bay Area. During a recent appearance on "The TK Show" podcast, Kuminga praised Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s resolve to keep the young quartet together heading into the new season.

 “It’s not too many people that believe in young players, but I feel like Mike believes in the young guys he’s drafted, the young guys he’s been around,” Kuminga said. “He watches them in practice, how they’re going to fit with some of the vets we have. It’s a blessing to still be here, and I’m always thankful to be around and Mike having trust in us. Obviously, I don’t feel like he made a bad choice. I see Brandin working, I see Moses, I see myself, I see Trayce. I feel like the more we stick together, we’ll have a great future.”

According to Cleaning The Glass, the Warriors' most used lineup last season consisted of both Kuminga and Podziemski. They shared the court with Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, with that lineup playing 488 possessions together, outscoring opponents by +12.5 points per 100 possessions. 

Jackson-Davis also had a strong rookie season for the franchise. He was part of Kerr's second-most dominant lineup, which featured Curry, Klay Thompson, Wiggins, Green and himself. That five-man rotation outscored opponents by +29.2 points per 100 possessions, but their time together was limited to 153 possessions. 

Nevertheless, toward the end of the season, it felt like Jackson-Davis and Green were developing a partnership that could anchor the roster in the 2024-25 season.

“Trayce and Draymond together have changed our team,” Kerr said in an April 4 news conference. “It’s pretty dramatic, the rim protection and rebounding that Trayce gives us and what that allows Draymond to do.”

Curry and Green are in the final stages of their careers. The Warriors have re-tooled their supporting cast this summer, adding De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield during free agency. However, it's widely accepted that if the team is going to contend in the near future, it's the development of their young core that will get them over the hump.

We began to see signs of what the new generation can bring to the roster last season. Dunleavy has clearly been impressed by what he's seen. Now, Kuminga and Co. must prove there's still significant room for improvement in their games. They will undoubtedly get the necessary playing time, which should be exciting for Warriors fans and the front office. 

A new generation is emerging in the Bay Area, and that could keep the franchise near the top of the Western Conference for another decade if everything plays out perfectly.