Projecting Warriors' Depth Chart, Rotation After 2022 NBA Free Agency

The Golden State Warriors' NBA championship defense starts now.

Actually, the gears have been rolling since the parade ended, as the shift from hunter to hunted put pressure on the front office to make this roster as strong as possible.

That was never going to be easy given the cap constraints, and free agency proved costly as key contributors such as Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. took the money and ran to new teams. The Warriors rebounded nicely, though, luring in Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green, who have the skills to fit this system like a tailored suit.

With Golden State back atop the mountain, let's examine its roster by laying out the depth chart and rotation before setting proper expectations for the 2022-23 campaign.

Depth Chart

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 3: Jonathan Kuminga #00 and Moses Moody #4 of the Santa Cruz Warriors look on against the G League Ignite during the NBA G-League game on November 3, 2021 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

The youth movement is coming to Golden State. At least, the Warriors' up-and-comers will be as present as they can be in a championship run.

While it isn't entirely clear where they will factor into the rotation, they could slot into some fairly prominent places in the depth chart.

PG: Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole

SG: Klay Thompson, Donte DiVincenzo, Ryan Rollins

SF: Andrew Wiggins, Moses Moody

PF: Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, JaMychal Green

C: Kevon Looney, James Wiseman

If there's one thing to remember about this depth chart, it's that position labels are fuzzy at best in Golden State. Most of these players will move around to multiple positions, so even if a role doesn't initially seem as substantial as it should, the multi-positional versatility can make the roles bigger than they appear.

Rotation

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Donte DiVincenzo (L) of the Golden State Warriors is greeted by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr during a break in a game between the Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

If possible, the Warriors likely want to limit the regular-season burden on their 30-something core of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green. The newcomers can help lighten the load.

DiVincenzo can man either backcourt spot and even slide to the 3 in certain matchups. He and Poole will handle the bulk of the backup perimeter minutes, though Moody or even Rollins could get some run there.

Golden State should give Kuminga and Wiseman ample opportunities to handle significant roles in the frontcourt rotation. While the Warriors have other young talent, these two arguably offer the most potential, so the front office will want a clear view of what they can bring. It can not only deepen the roster, but it could also make them easier to consider in a trade.

As for JaMychal Green, he could see a ton of action as long as his three-ball bounces back (a relatively safe assumption for a career 36.6 percent shooter). He fits at the 4 or 5 spots depending on whether the Dubs want to go bigger or smaller. Either way, his versatility and veteran know-how should shine within this system.

Expectations

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 20: The Golden State Warriors celebrate during their 2022 Victory Parade & Rally on June 20, 2022 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Josh Leung/NBAE via Getty Images)

I mean, is this even a question?

The Warriors aren't simply the world champs, they're coming off of their fourth title trek in eight seasons. They aren't measured against the current peers as often as they are history's great dynasties.

Now, whether Golden State has as much firepower as some of its previous iterations will come down to the aging curve. Can the 30-somethings fend off any age-related decline? And can the young players fast-forward through their growing pains and unlock the keys to consistency?

Those questions will define the level of dominance this team can attain, but the expectations won't change until this core does. It's championship-or-bust for basketball's reigning rulers.