Buddy Hield and Moses Moody: Opportunities with Warriors
The Dilemma for Steve Kerr: Playing Time for Moses Moody
One takeaway from the Golden State Warriors thrilling buzzer-beater win in their preseason opener on Saturday was that fourth-year wing Moses Moody was, once again, relegated to a small role. While he surely anticipated a bigger role with Klay Thompson’s departure, Moody was not in the starting lineup for the win over the LA Clippers. Steve Kerr opted to start De’Anthony Melton and Jonathan Kuminga at the two wing positions.
Moody's Performance in Preseason
Despite being the 11th man, which is even more damning when you remember that Andrew Wiggins didn’t play, it wasn’t all bad for Moody. He finished the game with 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting, alongside 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, and a team-best +14. Moreover, he found himself in the starting lineup for the second half after Kerr adjusted player positions.
Golden State's Future Plans
Moody has been impressing ahead of his final season before restricted free agency. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater noted that, “The buzz out of training camp was how well Moody had been playing.” However, with strong offseason acquisitions like Buddy Hield joining the roster, it’s uncertain where Moody's minutes will come from barring a trade.
Preparing for the Sacramento Kings
It’s a dilemma for Kerr, considering how impressed Moody was in the opening game. Will he see more playing time against the Sacramento Kings tonight, or will Hield's impact prevent that from happening?
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