Steve Kerr said Monday he is leaning toward opening the regular season with Draymond Green at center in a smaller Golden State Warriors starting lineup.
The proposed group includes Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and Green, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Kerr described a preference rather than a finalized starting five.
Kristaps Porzingis remains out indefinitely. He is scheduled to meet with Golden State’s medical staff Tuesday, while Al Horford is expected to play about 20 minutes per game.
Those availability and workload limits explain why Green could begin games at center. The smaller group gives Golden State several players who can handle the ball and connect possessions around Curry.
The rotation also leaves a clear challenge: covering a full game at center without placing every difficult defensive matchup on Green. Reserve minutes and the eventual availability of Porzingis will influence how often the Warriors can use larger combinations.
Kerr’s Monday comments give the clearest indication yet of the team’s opening plan. The remaining preseason work will help determine how that group fits together.
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