{"id":264283,"date":"2026-01-29T21:24:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T21:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/264283\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T21:24:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T21:24:10","slug":"warriors-to-stick-with-major-change-amid-giannis-trade-buzz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/264283\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors to Stick With Major Change Amid Giannis Trade Buzz"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Warriors,\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors laughs from the bench with coaches (L-R) Seth Cooper, Terry Stotts, Jerry Stackhouse and Kris Weems during the second half at the Delta Center on January 28, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. <\/p>\n

The Golden State Warriors<\/a> have tried out 22 different starting combinations<\/a> through 49 games thus far. While injuries have contributed to the chopping and changing, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has also tinkered with various lineups, especially in the frontcourt alongside Draymond Green<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Wednesday\u2019s 140-124 road win over the Utah Jazz<\/a>, Kerr tried out the lineup of Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski<\/a>, Moses Moody, Al Horford<\/a> and Draymond Green for just the second time this season, and it yielded another successful outcome. After the win, Kerr confirmed he plans to stick with Horford in the starting unit, now that the big man is no longer under a minutes restriction and can play at least 24 minutes.<\/p>\n

Steve Kerr said he is leaning toward keeping Al Horford as the starting center. Minutes limit is up to 24. Kerr likes him next to Draymond. He\u2019s started last two games he\u2019s been available. <\/p>\n

Al Hoford Finally Unleashed?<\/p>\n

When the Warriors signed Al Horford last season, the initial expectation was for the 2024 NBA<\/a> Champion to start alongside Draymond Green from the get-go. However, Kerr began the season with Green as the small-ball center, with Quetin Post and Horford coming off the bench. A few weeks into the season, he inserted Post into the starting unit and stuck with the change for a considerable period.<\/p>\n

Post, who has started 32 of the 49 games thus far, could be tasked with a starting role every now and again when Horford, 39, misses games for rest. Due to Horford\u2019s age and lingering injuries, the Warriors have held him out of back-to-backs. However, it appears Horford will be a lot more available going forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that he can play 24 minutes, which is where his restriction is, I feel comfortable starting him and still being able to close with him,\u201d Kerr said of Horford after Wednesday\u2019s win, via NBC Sports Bay Area<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can work the math on that. And it\u2019s nice having him with Draymond [Green] to start the game defensively. I like what I\u2019m seeing from that group.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giannis, Warriors Trade Buzz<\/p>\n

The good health news about Horford, who had eight assists and three blocks in Wednesday\u2019s win, comes amid strong trade buzz surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> and the Warriors ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.<\/p>\n

Per multiple insiders, the Warriors are the most aggressive suitor for the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, and are willing to surrender all their future 1st-round draft picks through 2032, along with their young assets Jonathan Kuminga<\/a> and Brandin Podziemski.<\/p>\n

The Warriors have reached out to the Bucks to express firm interest in Giannis and are prepared to make a \u201csubstantial\u201d offer regardless of his calf injury and unclear timetable, per @ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A \u201ctemperature check\u201d would be needed to gauge Antetokounmpo\u2019s interest in a partnership <\/p>\n

\u201cLeague sources told ESPN that the Warriors have contacted the Bucks in the past week and expressed their firm interest in Antetokounmpo and their willingness to put a substantial offer on the table regardless of his calf strain and undetermined return timetable,\u201d ESPN\u2019s Anthony Slater<\/a> reported on Thursday.<\/p>\n

The report added that the Warriors have coveted Antetokounmpo for a decade and view the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> star as their \u201cdream\u201d pairing next to Stephen Curry.<\/p>\n

Unlike the New York Knicks<\/a> and Miami Heat<\/a> \u2014 the other two aggressive Giannis trade suitors \u2014 the Warriors are armed with at least four tradeable first-round picks and multiple pick swaps, giving them a distinct advantage. However, it all comes down to how the Bucks view Kuminga and Podz as building blocks, per some insiders.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSai Mohan<\/a> covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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