The Warriors offseason certainly didn t go as planned

According to US sports media F/W reporter Sidante Gupta. The Warriors' offseason certainly didn't go as planned. The Warriors were completely inactive after outlining the need to make position upgrades and get the right players to improve their roster strength. With their top priorities falling into the hands of other teams one by one, the team could also lose several key players to become free agents, Looney has already travelled to the New Orleans Pelicans. Peyton Jr. and Kumingga are still on the negotiating table, but people are increasingly suspicious that they will leave, too. Faced with these pressing issues, the team urgently needs to adjust its roster.

To help with this process, we propose an increasingly possible strategy that the Warriors may adopt. With particular emphasis on improving the integrity of the team, we explored how to create a death roster by adding two key players to free agents. The Warriors' top priority this offseason is signing a reliable big man. After turning their point of view into a “small ball” approach, the Warriors promised to acquire a center. While the attempt has not been much successful so far, it has been reportedly shown to have a strong interest in signing former Boston Celtics center Al Horford as a free agent.

Horford's decision to become a free agent has attracted widespread attention from various teams in the league, and even the Celtics hope 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 averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while playing as a substitute with the Celtics, shooting 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from three-pointers. This veteran big man may be an ideal choice for the Golden State system. Horford’s versatility as an offensive player enables him to contribute in a variety of situations. From his inside line to his 3-pointer, the 5-time All-Star has all the right tools to be a core rotation player in the Warriors.

It is in the interest of the Warriors to sign Horford with a veteran's minimum contract, especially given his age. Horford's experience, champion bloodline and overall wisdom make him a valuable asset. By putting him and the Warriors starters in the starting lineup, the veteran will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the team’s output. Another interesting move the Warriors may make during the offseason is signing Damian Lillard as a free agent. Lillard recently entered the free agent market after being abandoned by the Bucks. With the Bucks absorbing $112.5 million owed to him, Lillard is expected to make about $22 million per season over the next five years. This creates an interesting situation for the 9 All-Stars.

As for the current situation, several teams are afraid to take risks to Lillard. This is mainly because the defender will be out for most of the 2025-26 season as he is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. With no guarantee of availability, the team won't see any benefits to get him right away. But, as Lillard said, he is the "price." Last season, the defender averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. Despite its high efficiency, the 34-year-old remains a deadly shooter off the arc, shooting 37.6% from three-pointers. Curry and Lillard’s backcourt combination may herald a new era, but this will only blossom after Lillard completes his recovery journey. The core of the Warriors already has the proven rotation of Curry, Green and Butler. Considering their playoff journey was just derailed by Curry's injury, it's fair to say the Warriors have another win. The signing of Lillard and Horford will do miracles in improving the team’s overall depth, and the death roster will undoubtedly be a daunting one. But it's also safe to say that when it becomes a reality, it will be an aging lineup.

The Warriors' potential death roster will not take effect until the 2026-27 season as Lillard is actually out of the market next season. By this time, Curry was 38, Green was 36, Butler was 36, Lillard was 35, and Horford was 40. Such an old team may have a lot of experience and courage, but keeping up with some of the younger teams in the league will be a challenge. Given the need for an immediate victory, the Warriors may explore other options to improve their roster depth.