Golden State enters 2026-27 after missing out on LeBron James in free agency, betting instead on health: a full season of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Kristaps Porzingis together for the first time.

This Golden State Warriors 2026-27 season preview breaks down every major storyline entering the year: the team's 2026 NBA Draft picks, its free agency departures and acquisitions, the roster health questions and projected starting lineup, updated Vegas win total and championship odds, and Warriors fantasy basketball analysis on the players who matter most heading into DFS and season-long drafts. After a very public pursuit of LeBron James ended with him signing in Philadelphia, Golden State instead re-signed its own free agents and is counting on better injury luck to be the biggest difference-maker for a core that's never had Curry, Butler, and Porzingis on the floor together for a full season.

Warriors 2026-27 Season at a Glance

CategoryDetails
2025-26 Record37-45
2025-26 Finish10th in West, eliminated in play-in tournament
2026-27 Win Total40.5 (BetMGM)
Championship Odds+6600
2026 Draft PicksNo. 11, No. 54
Biggest AdditionHealth (Butler and Porzingis for a full season)
Key PlayerStephen Curry
Fantasy Player to WatchBrandin Podziemski

Golden State's 40.5 win total reflects real skepticism after a 37-45 season, and the Warriors' +6600 championship odds cratered from as short as +2800 once it became clear LeBron James was signing elsewhere, a stark reminder of how much this offseason revolved around a star who ultimately chose Philadelphia.

 

 

 

2026 NBA Draft: Warriors' Picks and Fits

Golden State held two selections in the 2026 NBA Draft, its first pick in the lottery (No. 11) since 2021. With the roster's timeline still centered on a 37-year-old Curry, the front office prioritized a player who could contribute immediately rather than the highest-upside prospect on the board.

PickPlayerPositionSchool2026-27 ImpactNotes
No. 11 (1st Rd)Yaxel LendeborgFMichiganRotation frontcourt pieceConsensus All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year who led Michigan to a national title; averaged 15.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 3.2 APG on 52/37/82 shooting as a 23-year-old senior after stops at Arizona Western and UAB. Named Summer League Finals MVP.
No. 54 (2nd Rd)Lajae JonesSGFlorida StateDepth/two-waySenior wing added as camp and depth-chart insurance in the backcourt.

Lendeborg's polish and immediate readiness made him a fit for a Warriors team that can't afford to wait years for a rookie to develop, while Jones profiles as a two-way depth piece behind a crowded wing rotation.

Key Free Agent Departures

Golden State entered the offseason with 10 potential free agents, among the highest totals in the league, but the actual list of departures was limited to depth pieces:

Player2025-26 Role2026-27 StatusImpact
Quinten PostReserve CMemphis Grizzlies (unmatched offer sheet)Moderate
Seth CurryReserve guardUnsignedMinimal
Pat SpencerReserve guardPhoenix Suns (two-way)Minimal

Post was a restricted free agent, and the Warriors chose not to match a front-loaded three-year, $30 million offer sheet from Memphis, letting their third center walk rather than push further into the luxury tax.

 

 

 

Key Free Agent Acquisitions and Re-Signings

PlayerTermsTypeFantasy/Roster Impact
Kristaps Porzingis2 yrs, $40M extension (2027-28 player option)Re-signedAveraged 16.1 PPG in 15 games after arriving via trade; locking him in before free agency opened kept Golden State's frontcourt intact.
Draymond Green1 yr, $27.7MRe-signedReturns on a short-term deal, keeping the core defensive anchor in place for what could be a final championship push with Curry.
De'Anthony Melton2 yrs, $12.4MRe-signedRetained over a pursuit of Anfernee Simons; adds backcourt depth and defense.
Gary Payton1 yr, $3.9M (minimum)Re-signedReturns for a seventh season in the Bay as a defensive-minded bench guard.
Charles Bassey1 yr, minimumRe-signedFrontcourt depth piece brought back on a minimum deal.

Major Roster Moves and Projected Starting Lineup

The headline story of Golden State's offseason was a free agency chase that came up empty: after trading for Porzingis at the deadline and clearing the runway to pursue LeBron James, the Warriors watched him sign with Philadelphia instead. With no other marquee additions to show for it, Golden State's plan for 2026-27 leans entirely on internal health. Both Jimmy Butler (ACL) and Moses Moody (patellar tendon) are expected to begin the season out, with Moody's timeline extending toward much of the year given the severity of his injury.

Projected Starters

PositionPlayer
PGStephen Curry
SGBrandin Podziemski
SFGui Santos
PFDraymond Green
CKristaps Porzingis

Bench Rotation

This starting five is almost certain to change once Jimmy Butler returns from his ACL tear, likely around midseason, at which point he slots back in as a starter and pushes Santos or Porzingis (if healthy) into a reserve role. Moody's return, if it comes at all in 2026-27, would add another layer of change to the wing rotation.

 

 

 

Warriors Biggest Fantasy Questions

Can Stephen Curry Hold Up at 38?

Curry averaged 26.6 points per game in 2025-26, the third-most ever for a player age 37 or older, while battling a lingering knee issue that cost him 27 straight games. He remains a top-20 fantasy asset when on the floor, but his health track record means his ADP should build in some missed-time risk.

Is Brandin Podziemski a Top-100 Fantasy Asset Now?

Podziemski played all 82 games in 2025-26, finishing second on the team in total points and threes behind only Curry. With Golden State's crowded wing rotation depleted by injuries to start the season, Podziemski is set up for another full, featured role as a floor-spacing lead guard.

How Much Value Does a Returning Jimmy Butler Have?

Before tearing his ACL, Butler was averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on excellent 51.9/37.6/86.4 shooting splits over 38 games. If he returns at anywhere close to that level in the second half, he becomes one of the better buy-low, stash-and-hold plays in fantasy given his likely depressed draft price.

Warriors Fantasy Basketball 2026-27: Key Players to Know

Four Warriors fantasy players carry meaningful weight into 2026-27 drafts, with health across the roster as the single biggest swing factor.

Stephen Curry Fantasy Outlook

  • 2026-27 ADP: 20.5
  • Position: PG
  • 2025-26 Stats: 26.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.7 APG
  • Fantasy Outlook: Elite scorer and three-point volume, real injury risk
  • What to Watch: Knee health and missed-game risk at age 38

Curry posted the third-most points per game ever for a player 37 or older in 2025-26 and continues to lead the league in made threes year after year. A lingering knee issue cost him 27 straight games at one point last season, and that durability risk is the only thing keeping him outside the first round on most boards. When healthy, he remains a top-20 fantasy asset in nearly every format.

Brandin Podziemski Fantasy Outlook

  • 2026-27 ADP: 149.0
  • Position: PG/SG
  • 2025-26 Stats: 19.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.7 APG (82 games)
  • Fantasy Outlook: Iron-man value in a featured role
  • What to Watch: Role once Butler and Moody return healthy

Podziemski was the only Warrior to play all 82 games in 2025-26, finishing second on the team in total points and made threes behind only Curry. With Butler and Moody both starting the season on the shelf, Podziemski steps right back into a featured role, making his current ADP outside the top 140 look like a clear market inefficiency.

Kristaps Porzingis Fantasy Outlook

  • 2026-27 ADP: 108.0
  • Position: PF/C
  • 2025-26 Stats: 16.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.2 BPG (15 games with GSW)
  • Fantasy Outlook: High-upside center with a real health question mark
  • What to Watch: Total games played after years of injury trouble

Porzingis gives Golden State something it hasn't had in the Curry era: a legitimate stretch-five shot-blocker. He signed a below-market two-year deal to stay in the Bay Area, and his rare blend of three-point range and rim protection gives him top-75 upside if he can approach even 60 games played, though that has been a persistent question throughout his career. That seems to be a stretch, however, considering he's already been ruled out for an undisclosed amount of time due to health concerns.

Jimmy Butler Fantasy Outlook

  • 2026-27 ADP: 121.5
  • Position: PF/SF/SG
  • 2025-26 Stats: 20.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.9 APG (38 games)
  • Fantasy Outlook: Stash-and-hold buy-low
  • What to Watch: Timeline for return from a torn ACL

Butler was playing some of the best basketball of his Warriors tenure before tearing his ACL, and the team hopes he can return around January or February. His fantasy price already reflects a lost first half, which means a full-strength second-half return would make him one of the better value plays in category leagues down the stretch.

 

 

 

Warriors Fantasy Sleepers & Breakouts

Warriors Fantasy Sleeper

Brandin Podziemski: Despite being the only Warrior to play all 82 games last season and finishing second on the team in both points and made threes, Podziemski is still being drafted outside the top 140 picks. With Butler and Moody both starting the year out and Golden State's wing rotation thin, he's set up for another iron-man, featured-role season at a price that looks more like a bench piece than a full-time starter.

Warriors Fantasy Breakout Candidate

Yaxel Lendeborg: With Butler and Moody both starting the season out and a lot of question marks surrounding Porzingis' health, the No. 11 pick has a real runway to rotation minutes as a rookie, something that rarely happens on a win-now roster. His all-around college production and Summer League Finals MVP performance suggest he's ready to contribute right away, giving him sneaky value at an ADP of 149.0.

Data via NBA.com, ESPN, Yahoo Sports, Hoops Rumors, Spotrac, BetMGM, RotoWire, and Basketball Reference. Odds and win totals reflect lines as of mid-September 2026 and are subject to change.