This offseason, the Golden State Warriors are reportedly moving to add veterans Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton to their roster in the Bay Area. However, these potential signings won’t resolve the Warriors’ fundamental challenge this year—the team’s lack of size and physicality against the tough Western Conference competition. Even with stars like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler returning, the Warriors remain vulnerable to bigger, more athletic opponents, which contributed to their early exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.
NBA insider Marc Stein indicated the Warriors are confident in securing both Horford and Melton, but former player Udonis Haslem and analyst Monte Poole remain skeptical about the impact these moves will have. According to Poole, the real issue isn’t adding more experience but addressing Golden State’s glaring deficiency in frontcourt size and rim protection, a critical weakness when facing the dominant big men of the Western Conference.
Western Conference’s Powerful Frontcourts Present Major Hurdles
Monte Poole highlighted how the Warriors are undersized compared to teams like Oklahoma City, featuring versatile big men Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, as well as the Denver Nuggets, anchored by reigning MVP Nikola Jokić. Poole warned that simply acquiring a 39-year-old Horford won’t be enough to counter these formidable frontcourt players, given the physical demands of the NBA season and Horford’s diminishing minutes.
“You’ve got the two guys in Oklahoma City and Hartenstein and Chet,”
Poole said, referencing the Thunder’s defensive duo.
“And of course, there’s the reigning MVP Nikola Jokić in Denver — arguably the most dominant center in the league.”
—Monte Poole, Basketball Analyst
He further explained,
“Al Horford, yeah, that’d be a nice get. But Al Horford, you don’t want to play him 30 minutes a night, 39 years old. You want to play him somewhere in the low to mid 20s to get the best out of him.”
That makes it clear the Warriors need more than a veteran presence—they require frontcourt players who can endure heavy playing time and compete physically night after night.
Poole emphasized that while Horford and Melton might add leadership, floor spacing, and defensive knowledge, they don’t fix the Warriors’ frontline issues. Golden State’s status as one of the smallest teams in terms of size leaves them exposed to rivals built on strength and athleticism, such as Rudy Gobert-led squads or athletic talents like Alperen Şengün. Additionally, the current frontcourt construction around Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green is unlikely to be effective against such competition.
“If they come back and try and beat teams with Jimmy and Draymond at the four and the three, that’s not going to work,”
Poole warned. He also underscored the reality that Draymond Green’s durability is in question over a full 82-game campaign. This not only affects Golden State’s defense but also their ability to maintain intensity over a demanding season.
Defensive Gaps and Inconsistent On-Ball Pressure Remain Unaddressed
Beyond frontcourt concerns, the Warriors also struggle on defense. While De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II (GP2) offer capable guard-level defense, sustaining elite on-ball pressure is inconsistent. Poole noted that GP2 sometimes delivers solid defensive effort but often falls short of his usual level. Without drastic improvement in defensive agility and size, Golden State pairs an aging defensive unit with limited rim protection, a combination that Western Conference powerhouses will exploit relentlessly.
“GP2’s defense was really good at times,”
Poole said,
“but other times it wasn’t like his usual level.”
—Monte Poole, Basketball Analyst
The Warriors’ inability to mitigate these weaknesses makes them susceptible against teams like the Timberwolves, Thunder, and Nuggets, all of which boast younger and more athletic rosters with superior interior presence. This defensive shortfall is a critical reason why injuries or absences by key players have significantly hampered Golden State’s performance in recent years.
Can the Warriors Shift Strategy Beyond Relying on Steph Curry?
Dalton Johnson, speaking on the Dubs Talk podcast, echoed mounting concerns about the Warriors’ heavy dependence on Stephen Curry. Johnson described Curry as perhaps the most unique superstar in NBA history, notably within Steve Kerr’s system, but also lamented the system’s fragility when Curry is sidelined. Golden State’s offense faltered disastrously during Curry’s injury spells, exposing a lack of secondary scoring and offensive creativity.
“I mean, I’ve always been a guy that says shooting, shooting, shooting with this team. I think that we saw what happened when Steph Curry obviously went down to injury… he might be the most unique superstar of all time, especially with this system, especially with Steve Kerr.”
—Dalton Johnson, Sports Analyst
Johnson stressed that relying on Curry is increasingly unsustainable, particularly given his advancing age and injury concerns. The Warriors need more shooting depth and players who can create offense independently, alleviating the pressure on Curry and Butler. The absence of reliable floor spacers and secondary scorers in critical moments caused Golden State’s offense to stagnate last postseason, with defenses collapsing on Butler and limiting his effectiveness.
Although Melton and Horford bring certain skills to the table, Johnson highlighted their limitations: Melton missed nearly a full season from injury, and Horford, approaching 40, cannot be expected to shoulder a heavy workload across an intense NBA schedule. These additions serve as short-term patches but lack the capacity to elevate the Warriors’ offensive or defensive dynamics substantially.
The Warriors are at a crossroads. They can hope for an ideal scenario—Curry remaining healthy, Butler regaining top form, and Draymond maintaining his energy—but such outcomes are far from guaranteed. Building around an aging core while neglecting fundamental weaknesses in size, defense, and offensive depth risks another early playoff exit.
Facing Giants: The Reality of the Warriors’ Age and Competition
The Golden State Warriors must confront the harsh reality that their aging core faces formidable young teams in the Western Conference stacked with towering, physically dominant players. Without a plan to add size, athleticism, and dependable scorers who can consistently create plays, Golden State will struggle against rivals like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets.
The Warriors’ potential signings of Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton, while adding veteran experience and some skill sets, fall far short of solving the team’s biggest issue. Without serious frontcourt reinforcements and offensive reinvention, the Warriors risk another short and disappointing season, as the league’s younger, bigger teams continue to dominate.
Golden State’s path forward demands not just hope in returning stars but a fundamental realignment to counter the physical and tactical challenges posed by their Western Conference adversaries. Until then, the Warriors’ dependency on their aging core and piecemeal veteran additions will likely limit their playoff potential in an increasingly unforgiving conference.