In today’s Dub Hub:
- Moses Moody explains how his recovery from a torn UCL in his right thumb helped him improved his shot.
- Steve Kerr is “confident” building the Warriors’ roster around aging superstars.
- Bucks and Knicks discussed trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to ESPN.
Moses Moody made the most of his opportunity Sunday night, shining as one of the standouts in the Golden State Warriors’ preseason opener. Inserted into the starting lineup against the Los Angeles Lakers, Moody scored 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three and finished with a team-high plus-21 in just 15 minutes of action.
After
shooting 37.4% from deep last regular season, Moody’s playoff production dropped as he battled through a significant thumb injury that quietly hampered his shot. However, now fully recovered, that same setback might have sparked his next leap.
Stephen Curry also took notice of Moody’s renewed rhythm, praising his improved confidence after the win.
After Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and presumably Al Horford, there’s still one spot up for grabs in the Warriors’ starting lineup. If Moody keeps shooting the way he did on Sunday, he could make a strong case to claim that final starting spot as Golden State continues its preseason slate.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, October 7th:
Warriors News:
Why Steve Kerr is confident having Warriors’ identity built on aging superstars | NBC Sports Bay Area
“Steph is our solar system. He’s the sun. Everything else revolves around the sun,” Kerr told Burke. “We have Steph Curry. He is one of the all-time great players. We thrive – and Steph thrives – when there’s spacing, ball movement, flow. This is why we have built our team around Steph, and then Jimmy arrived last year and gave Steph another threat next to him. Jimmy is the best isolation player in the league, analytically. When you give him the ball and you space the floor, you give him a good shot.”
NBA trade guide: How 14 teams will approach the 2025-26 season | ESPN
Golden State benefits in multiple ways with Kuminga not signing the $8 million qualifying offer. Although he can’t be traded until Jan. 15, the Warriors now have a $22.5 million trade asset. By waiving his one-year Bird restriction, Golden State can also trade Kuminga without his approval.
But there are financial consequences with the new Kuminga contract and signing Al Horford to the tax midlevel exception.
The Warriors are now hard-capped at the second apron — they are $2 million below — and not allowed to take back more salary in a trade and aggregate contracts if it leaves them over the second apron.
Does Steph Curry have the best celebration in the league?
NBA News:
Why Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee is far from settled | ESPN
Several teams were discussed internally, but one emerged as the only place Antetokounmpo wanted to play outside of Milwaukee: the New York Knicks, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN.
The Bucks picked up the Knicks’ call on Antetokounmpo, and the sides engaged in conversations for a window of time in August, league sources said, but the teams never got traction on a deal.
The Bucks insisted to the Knicks that they preferred not to move Antetokounmpo, but those in Milwaukee believe New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade, league sources said.
LeBron James not retiring despite speculation over ‘The Second Decision’
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Warriors mailbag: Lineups, rotations, Kuminga, and more!
I answered a similar question at the start of the article, so I’ll just add this: if Kuminga is in Kerr’s doghouse, trading him is going to be very difficult. Not many teams are going to want to get rid of $20+ million in salary (presumably interesting salary, or the Warriors wouldn’t be interested) for a player who hasn’t been getting any shine during the season?
I know there’s a lot of talk of trading Kuminga at the deadline, and I’m sure the Warriors are hoping that some disgruntled star becomes available, but I think it’s far more likely they wait until the summer and then sign-and-trade him after declining his option.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
