One way or another, the Golden State Warriors are going to look dramatically different next season.
After their elimination from playoff contention at the hands of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Play-In Tournament, Golden State has officially entered an offseason defined by uncertainty. Long-standing questions linger about the futures of franchise cornerstones like Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr, but the most immediate pressure point is the sheer volume of players headed for free agency. In total, the Warriors face a staggering list of ten pending free agents and option-holders — effectively a full roster’s worth of talent that could walk out the door.
That volume alone makes this one of the most consequential offseasons in recent franchise history. While the Warriors may choose to retain some of their own, others have almost certainly played their final games in a Golden State uniform. Here is a complete breakdown of the situation.
Golden State Warriors’ 2026 Unrestricted Free Agents
Four players are set to hit the open market with unrestricted free agency, giving them the freedom to sign with any team while leaving the Warriors without matching rights.
The group includes:
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Gary Payton II
- Seth Curry
- Charles Bassey
Porzingis stands out as the most intriguing case. Acquired by the Warriors before the trade deadline, the former All-Star delivered flashes of his elite skill set but endured an inconsistent campaign. Following the Play-In loss, he remained non-committal about his future while expressing genuine affection for the organization.
“That’s a good question. I do love my time here, honestly. Not one bad thing I can say about the organization, the team, the teammates. I really love it here, I really do,” Porzingis said, via the New York Post.
He continued: “As I said before, I haven’t had a good year. If I had a good year, I think I’d have a more clear picture of what I want to do. Because I’ve had an up-and-down year like this, this is an offseason in my career that I think I’m just going to take a step back, look at the whole picture and then see what’s the best direction for me.”
The Warriors would undoubtedly prefer to keep the 7-foot-3 big man, but Porzingis’ measured comments suggest the decision will hinge on a broader evaluation of his career trajectory rather than loyalty alone. The other three unrestricted free agents — Payton II, Curry, and Bassey — bring valuable depth and veteran experience, yet their departures would represent the loss of proven rotation pieces.
Golden State Warriors’ 2026 Restricted Free Agents
The Warriors also hold three players entering restricted free agency, where the team retains the right to match any external offers:
- Quinten Post
- Pat Spencer
- Jeenathan Williams
Whether Golden State invests the necessary resources to retain this trio remains to be seen. Restricted free agency offers the franchise some protection, but it also forces difficult cap decisions at a time when roster reconstruction may be the higher priority.
Players with Player Options for the 2026-27 Season
Adding another layer of complexity are three veterans who hold player options for next season and could opt out to test the unrestricted market:
- Draymond Green
- Al Horford
- De’Anthony Melton
All eyes are naturally fixed on Green. The four-time champion has made it clear he expects to decline his option, but he has also signaled a strong desire to remain in the Bay Area.
“But in an ideal world, I think the best path would be to decline and extend,” Green said. “If I had it my way, that would be the best path forward.”
His potential departure or re-signing will carry enormous symbolic and competitive weight, given his central role in the dynasty’s success. Horford and Melton, meanwhile, provide additional veteran presence whose decisions could further reshape the roster’s balance of youth and experience.
In sum, the Warriors are staring down a free-agency exodus that could strip away more than half a roster’s worth of players. The combination of four unrestricted free agents, three restricted free agents, and three option-holders creates a perfect storm of roster turnover. With uncertainty already swirling around Green and Kerr, the front office faces a high-stakes summer: decide which pieces to fight for, which to let walk, and how to rebuild around a core that suddenly looks far less certain. Whatever path they choose, one thing is already clear — the Golden State Warriors of 2026-27 will be a very different team.