Unlikely contributors forcing Kerr to rethink the rotation?
Draymond Green added to injury list
The Golden State Warriors resume their road trip today, with a showdown in Cleveland as the first game in yet another back-to-back. The Warriors stormed back into their last game, but in the end just couldn’t muster enough poise to finish - ending with a brutal sequence where rookie, VJ Edgecombe made the go-ahead bucket with less than a second left; followed by a buzzer-beater block by Tyrese Maxey.
In professional sports, there’s no celebration of moral victories, and yet it felt significant that the Warriors were able to erase a 24-point deficit while playing without their biggest names.
On the injury front, not much relief in sight for the banged up Warriors. Steph Curry and Al Horford are out. Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry are all questionable. Reportedly, Green was putting up shots earlier today - and though that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s playing, it is a significant improvement over our last sighting of him limping out in a walking boot.
Nights like these are where the season’s bigger questions begin to harden. You can squint and see the outlines of a team still capable of punching above its record, but every injury and every late-game collapse pushes the Warriors closer to the uncomfortable reality that the margins are thinner than they’ve ever been. And once you start staring at those margins, you start staring directly at the rotation choices that have kept Golden State afloat - or dragged them under.
GAME DETAILS
WHO: Golden State Warriors (11-12) at Cleveland Cavaliers (14-10)
WHEN: Saturday, December 6th, 2025; 4:30pm PST
WATCH: NBCSBA
Are the stopgap measures good enough to change the Warriors’ rotation?
A defining part of Golden State’s identity this season centers on the team’s core three. Their highest paid, and most talented, players are expected to carry this team. It’s reasonable.
Around the edges, the Warriors have not found as much reliably positive contributions as they would like. Al Horford, the big free agent signing has had his share of excellent moments, but injuries and a variety of other factors have limited his effectiveness. And unfortunately, Horford isn’t alone here. Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Buddy Hield are all struggling this season. Hield has had the lowest shooting efficiency of his entire career, Podz is struggling as both a scorer as well as playmaker, and Kuminga seems to have one foot out the door - or maybe his knee is actually bad (or some combination of the two).
With their hands forced by the injury to Curry, Golden State finally made the decision to add Seth Curry. Combined with the return of De’Anthony Melton, the Warriors are hoping to find enough firepower to resurrect their offense. Sitting below average, the Warriors have been struggling to find the offensive punch that largely defined the level of threat that this team has represented over the years.
Enter, Pat Spencer.
Remember, this guy is on a two-way contract, which limits the total number of games that he is eligible to play. In his third season trying to crack the Warriors’ rotation, Spencer looks more comfortable (and perhaps even more promising) than presumed incumbent, Podz.
What makes this all so intriguing isn’t just the novelty of a fringe-roster guy stepping up - it’s how clearly the team’s identity is in play when he does. The Warriors have spent years smoothing over their bench issues with star power, but this season has exposed just how brittle that approach can be. Spencer and Melton don’t just represent temporary solutions; they represent a philosophical fork in the road about who gets trusted, and why.. and for how long.
This is a temporary pain. Once Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler are back, they’ll resume their duties (carrying the team), leaving the remaining gaps significantly diminished - but not fully eliminated. So no matter how the season unfolds from here, it’s safe to assume that the Warriors’ coaching staff is watching these developments with interest. Remember, this is a player who has averaged around 8 minutes, and 3.3 points per game. Check out Pat Spencer’s last two outings:
No trade is expected prior to mid-January, when Kuminga and his short contract become eligible to move, but it’s fair to wonder if the Warriors won’t be content to wait that long. So maybe not a trade, but near-term shakeup of the team’s rotations could well be on the table.
With somewhere between a quarter to a third of the season already gone, it doesn’t feel ideal that the team is still in such a state of flux, but between availability and performance, the team has plenty to consider.
Coming into the season, we knew that the return of Melton would add a new wrinkle worthy of consideration. But the changes may well go much deeper. In Spencer, the team may well have found a bench player that can drive their offense for a few minutes while Curry catches his breath on the sidelines. Maybe that’s Melton though, and his return will certainly ease some of the burden; but after watching the last couple of games, it’s hard not to think that Spencer deserves more of a chance here.
Whether or not Green and Butler play, this roster is in need of a good solid kickstart. Hovering around average isn’t totally unexpected for this roster, but Spencer and Melton may have provided an enticing enough look at the alternatives to force the team to start exploring new avenues sooner rather than later.
And this is the tension threading through every game right now: Golden State has enough pieces to remain dangerous, but not enough certainty to feel stable. Every encouraging flash comes paired with a reminder of how quickly things can wobble when the stars sit. The front office won’t say it out loud, but the next few weeks feel like an evaluation window - not just for Kuminga, but for the entire architecture of the roster. Whatever they decide next may define the season more than any one win or loss.
Prediction
I think I might buy a new motorcycle today. Let’s hope for that, and a Warriors win to stabilize their record. Also, looking at the calendar, I think we are due for a Steph Curry update.
Cross those fingers and toes!