In today’s Dub Hub:
- Steve Kerr remains committed to the starting lineup, despite the five-man group being a net negative, statistically.
- Lakers have “continued to monitor” the Jonathan Kuminga situation, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer.
- Mavericks’ Anthony Davis likely to undergo hand surgery and miss several months, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr isn’t backing away from his starting lineup — even as the numbers continue to lag behind it. Speaking to the media on Monday, Kerr acknowledged that while the current combination hasn’t produced strong results, his reasoning for sticking with it goes beyond raw metrics.
The lineup of Stephen Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Quinten Post currently has an offensive rating of 113.2 and a defensive rating of 116.5, for an overall net rating of -3.3.
For Kerr, however, the bigger picture matters more than the early returns. Keeping Green at the four to open games not only helps the Warriors establish their preferred flow on both ends, but also spares him from having to start every night matched up against opposing centers over the course of the season. It’s also created a level of consistency for the rest of the rotation, allowing players to settle into defined roles.
So while Kerr admits the starting lineup “hasn’t been great,” he believes the positives outweigh the negatives and that the lineup will ultimately benefit how the team functions overall.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, January 13th:
Warriors News:
Michael Porter Jr. to Warriors and more NBA trades I’d love to see | The Athletic
Indeed, the 2026 first-rounder and 2028 pick swap with the Warriors would be pretty interesting assets to get back, given Golden State’s timeline. Even if Curry, Green, Butler and Porter all re-sign for another year in 2028, you would think there would be seriously diminishing returns two years from now when all their core guys outside of Porter would be in their late-30s. The next-most valuable asset here is Moody, who has turned into a solid 3-and-D player at 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan. The Nets could use a guy like this for the next few years as they build out the rest of their roster. Moody makes sense next to a wide variety of players and is an established rotation player whose presence could help develop younger guys that Brooklyn already has and continues to bring in. Carter is also a lottery pick who’s terrific on the defensive end but whose jumper has been very messy since he injured his shoulder before the 2024 draft. He’d be a pure lottery ticket instead of taking the expensive Kuminga back.
The Jonathan Kuminga Trade Landscape Latest | The Stein Line
One other team to at least mention here: The Lakers.
The purple-and-gold’s known preference at this deadline is to acquire a true 3-and-D wing with size if possible to provide some point-of-attack resistance on the perimeter as well as some shooting, but it must be said the Lakers, according to sources, did call Golden State about Kuminga during the sides’ summer standoff in restricted free agency. I’m told that the Lakers have likewise continued to monitor Kuminga’s situation while casting a wide net to try to find help on a very limited wing market.
Draymond Green explains his recent back-and-forth with Dennis Schroder
NBA News:
Power Rankings, Week 13: Thunder back at top amid changed Top 5 | NBA
The Suns have had the league’s No. 1 defense (107.3 points allowed per 100 possessions) over the 9-2 stretch, climbing from 12th to fifth for the season as a whole. They continue to force turnovers at a high rate, but have also been much better at keeping their opponents off the free-throw line over their last five games.
Mavs’ Anthony Davis likely to undergo hand surgery and miss several months
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Report: Warriors have not made an offer for Michael Porter Jr.
The trade rumors surfaced this week like a fever dream you can’t shake when you wake up. Michael Porter Jr. to Golden State. The hypothetical package: Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, and a first-round pick. Dalton Johnson quickly clarified that the Warriors haven’t actually made that offer, that they’ve been hesitant on Porter, and remain cautious with their future draft picks.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
