Former first-round pick Moses Moody is making a strong case this month for a more consistent regular season role than the one he has played in his first three NBA seasons, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Moody has racked up 58 points in just 69 minutes of action across his last three preseason outings and knocked down five three-pointers in Tuesday’s victory over the Lakers.
“He’s playing great,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s gotten so much better in so many ways. We’ve always loved his character, his work ethic. This is the most confidence he’s played with. … There’s a reason we drafted him. Size, strength and ability to shoot the ball. I think he’s grown into his body. He looks stronger to me. When he’s putting the ball on the floor, people are bouncing off of him. He’s shooting much better off pindowns on the move. He’s put all the work in and he’s earned this.”
Although Kerr stated that he expects Moody to “play a big role for us,” he quickly added that there are many players on the roster who have shown they deserve regular minutes, suggesting that the Warriors still haven’t determined who will be the odd men out of the regular season rotation.
“We’re sitting in that coaches room every day saying: ‘How are we going to play all these guys?'” Kerr said. “Because they all deserve to play. I’ve asked all of them to play their hardest, make it difficult for us.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Moody’s representatives and the Warriors have discussed the framework of a possible multiyear rookie scale extension that would be near the “mid-level range,” sources tell Slater. As Slater observes, a deal in that neighborhood could look like a steal or an overpay a year from now, depending on whether or not Moody finds a firm foothold in Kerr’s rotation in 2024/25.
- Here’s what Kerr had to say about the extension talks the team is having with Moody and Jonathan Kuminga, according to Slater: “Both Moses and (Kuminga) are handling that stuff really well.They’re focused on playing. I’ve talked to them both about the extension stuff. They know that I understand their situations, having been there as a player. Every guy is facing a unique set of circumstances.” The rookie scale extension deadline is Monday. A player without a new deal in place by that evening will be on track for restricted free agency in 2025.
- Andrew Wiggins made his preseason debut on Tuesday and started at shooting guard, with Kuminga at the three. According to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, a Wiggins/Stephen Curry backcourt is a possibility Kerr has considered for quite some time, and he liked the way Wiggins and Kuminga looked alongside one another on the wing against the Lakers. “The key is JK and Wiggs running the floor,” Kerr said. “It puts a lot of pressure on teams. And they set a good tone tonight, the way they just got downhill, with or without the ball, they were gone. I really like the way both of those guys played and the impact that they can make with their athleticism and force.”
- De’Anthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski are among the other candidates to start at the two alongside Curry, but neither player was active on Tuesday, with Melton battling some mid-back tightness and Podziemski waiting for a mask to arrive after breaking his nose on Sunday, Slater writes. However, neither issue is considered serious, according to Slater, who confirms that Podziemski plans to play through his broken nose once he gets his mask.
Warriors minutes is going to make some players mad. Too deep of a bench for everyone to get minutes on the court.
Somebody will be hurt, and if you wanna go far in the playoffs Steph/Dray need rest from time to time.
It’s a good problem to have. And they’re still big game hunting. Three of these guys plus a first rounder or two could bring home a major contributor if one becomes available.
Honestly I do not care about minutes breakdowns, I care about winning.
The whole reason why I am somewhat anti-Podz is because giving him all that playing time turned us into a bad team. Moody never got that chance that he should have gotten last year, but Podz happened instead, and we lost the play-in when if Moody was developed instead, we would have won more games and finished top 6.
I think JK has improved in a lot of areas. He can be a reliable scorer for the Warriors on the wing. You can throw him the ball and he will get you a bucket. That’s huge for them. If his Camp is reasonable the Warriors will sign an extension with him by the deadline Monday.
Well it looks like somebody got in Moody’s ear. Could have been my voice screaming at the TV for him to DO SOMETHING when he gets the ball. These last couple of games have been quite a bit different than the first game I saw him play this preseason.
Moody actually does do something now. He’ll catch and shoot more often, he’ll drive to the hole more frequently, and he’s been overall aggressive offensively.
Good for him. And thank goodness he can hear me on the other side of the TV LOL
Or Moody has always been this guy, but Kerr played Podz over him when Podz is a much worse player than Moody, because Kerr stinks at his job and is carried by Steph 100%.
Moody was listed on some drafts as top 5-10, he’s always had that star ceiling. You took Podzi playing with his hair on fire as “good” and Moody calmly scoring bucket after bucket as “slow” – but Podz playing style just leads to turnovers, and Moodys play leads to buckets an wins.
Wiggs and Podz for Bron and Bronny – its gunna happen…
I love Moody, I love the Warriors, I love this roster and this is a top 4 team if Moody, JK and Lindy are all going to be better than expected, and Slomo, Buddy and Melton are all perfect fits as system players.
My official take is now: Steph + 13 guys who can start > whatever Phoenix’s roster is. Only the Thunder, Wolves and maybe Nuggets for sure clear this GSW roster in the West. GSW does not need to make a big trade for a star, they can run this roster all year and make the top 6 playoffs even if injuries happen, but that being said, if the right player becomes available, we have Wiggins, Looney, GP2 and Podz to offer, along with picks and money….that can bring in a LOT of great fits. Or, if you put Kuminga and Moody on the table as well, you can bring Giannis here. What a fantastic spot GSW is in right now. MDJ needs a medal, what an instant-classic of a GM that the Warriors got here. He took the noise of “you HAVE to get PG13/Lauri etc” and said “what about having 13 starters, so no bad rotations exist at all, ever?” He traded Klay and a 2nd rounder for Buddy and Slomo. Genius.
Oddly enough, I believe GSWs newfounded depth is really helping Moody. Before, he’d play with all of the faaarrr back end of the roster and they weren’t very good. Think last year. Now with this great depth, the back end is pretty damn good. And Moody is leading them which is what we’ve all been waiting for. Playing with Quinones and that back end wasn’t giving Moody a good chance to excel. Yes, he could have just led them but it wasn’t a great “group” to lead. NOW, he’s on the floor with a much better “group”. Anderson, Looney, Waters, sometimes TJD and Podz. And he’s now giving Kerr no choice because it’s a different, better, more engaged, more energetic Moody. Kerr can’t not play him anymore as Moody is not the same guy. I’m not sure I’m making sense, but as I initially stated, this 2024-2025 depth is showcasing Moody.
I agree with every word of this, Moody always got run with the 2W players and guys who werent long for the team. Kerr buried him too deep when Moody was always better than Podz, who got all the minutes that Moody had deserved last year, but looks like he finally might get now.
GSW should have put Podz on the trade table the day he made all-rookie first team, not Moody. The fact that Moody is playing like the best SG on the team on a team with Hield and Melton on it speaks volumes. Moody is playing well with any combo where Moody is the #2. Moody has always been a bucket and a solid defender with a high iq who will get better as long as you play him…but Kerr didnt do that.