The Golden State Warriors are no strangers to drama, but as the new NBA season looms, the spotlight is once again on Draymond Green and a familiar problem that could unravel their championship dreams. The Warriors have long leaned on Green’s fiery leadership and defensive brilliance, but their persistent lack of depth at the center position is pushing the 35-year-old into a role he can’t sustainably fill. With the team’s roster in flux and the clock ticking on their championship window, the Warriors are teetering on the edge of a crisis—and it’s not even game one.
The Warriors have reportedly set their sights on Al Horford as their starting center, a move that aims to stabilize the frontcourt once the ongoing Jonathan Kuminga restricted free agency saga resolves. But at 39 years old, Horford is no spring chicken. He can’t be expected to log more than 27 minutes per night, and he’ll need regular rest to stay fresh for the postseason. This leaves Golden State with a gaping hole at the five, forcing Draymond Green back into a position they’ve tried to avoid: playing significant minutes as the team’s center.
With Kevon Looney now anchoring the paint in New Orleans, the Warriors’ depth at the position is razor-thin. Quentin Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis are the only other options, but neither has proven ready for a starring role. Both have averaged under 17 minutes per game in their careers, and their inexperience and limitations make them shaky bets to handle nightly duties. Unless one of them makes a dramatic leap or coach Steve Kerr works them both into the rotation, Green will be thrust into eating big minutes at the five—whether he’s ready for it or not.
Green’s unique skill set—his defensive IQ, playmaking, and intensity—makes him the heartbeat of the Warriors’ defense. But at 35, his body isn’t built for the grind of playing center every night. Last season, he appeared in 68 games, a solid mark, but his career average since 2019 hovers at just 59.1 games per year. Injuries and absences are part of his reality, and the Warriors’ championship hopes hinge on keeping him healthy. Asking him to shoulder a massive workload at a physically demanding position is a recipe for disaster.
The problem compounds when Horford inevitably misses time or when matchups demand Green’s presence at center to secure a win. The Warriors know they can’t overburden their veteran star, but with their current roster, they may have no choice. If they want to compete with the West’s elite—like the Nuggets, Mavericks, or Thunder—they’ll need Green to be at his best, not battered and worn down by April.
Even with Stephen Curry’s wizardry and the addition of Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ offense has question marks. The team lacks consistent scoring, ball-handling, and playmaking beyond their star duo, and Kuminga’s unresolved free agency only adds to the uncertainty. Until his situation is clarified, the Warriors’ roster feels like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Defensively, the picture is even murkier. A Green-Horford frontcourt sounds intriguing on paper, blending veteran savvy with championship pedigree. But both players are past their athletic primes, and their ability to dominate night after night is no sure thing. Butler, known for his defensive tenacity, has shown signs of decline, and his impact on that end can be inconsistent. The Warriors desperately need an infusion of youth to bolster their defense, but relying on unproven talents like Post and Jackson-Davis is a gamble with no guaranteed payoff.
The Warriors’ center problem isn’t new, but it feels more urgent than ever. Free agency offers no clear savior beyond Horford, and hoping the 39-year-old can defy Father Time for one more season is a tall order. If Horford’s performance dips, the pressure on Green will reach a breaking point, threatening to derail Golden State’s title aspirations.
The Warriors could scour the market for a veteran “innings eater” to soak up regular-season minutes and ease the burden on Green. But with limited options and cap space, that feels like a pipe dream. Instead, the team will likely lean on Green to hold the fort, praying he can stay healthy and effective through the postseason gauntlet. It’s a massive ask for a player who’s already given so much to the franchise.
Golden State has navigated the Draymond-at-center issue for years, always finding a way to make it work. But with Curry and Green in the twilight of their careers, the margin for error is shrinking. The Warriors know they have only a few shots left to deliver a fifth championship to their dynamic duo. A lack of depth at center could be the fatal flaw that ends their dynasty.
As the season approaches, all eyes are on Draymond Green—not just as the Warriors’ emotional leader, but as the linchpin of a roster stretched thin. The drama is already brewing, and the explosion of this ongoing issue threatens to upend everything. Fans can only watch and hope that Green, Horford, and the Warriors’ young pieces can somehow hold it together. The clock is ticking, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.