Warriors look to future with extension for young guard

For years, the Golden State Warriors have tried to develop young talent while keeping their veteran core. Now they've committed to at least one player long-term.

Moses Moody signed a three-year extension with Golden State for $39M, tying the 21-year-old guard to the team through the 2027-28 season. The fourth-year player has been in and out of coach Steve Kerr's rotation in his three NBA seasons, but after a strong preseason in which Moody averaged 15.5 points, he and the Warriors agreed on a long-term deal.

Golden State drafted Moody with the No. 14 overall selection in 2021, the same year they took Jonathan Kuminga with the seventh overall pick. Both players helped the team win a title in their rookie seasons, with Moody starting 11 games. Warriors owner Joe Lacob discussed his "two timelines" approach to roster building, with veterans like Steph Curry and Draymond Green being joined, ideally, by first-rounders like Kuminga, Moody and former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman.

But the Warriors lost in the second round in 2023, trading Wiseman at the deadline. Last season, they lost in the play-in tournament, after adding one of the league's oldest players in Chris Paul and trading away Jordan Poole and both of their draft picks from 2022 before the campaign.

Ironically, the team's move away from a youth movement coincided with getting big contributions from All-Rookie first-teamer Brandin Podziemski and center Trayce Jackson-Davis. Now Moody is the first player from the so-called "second timeline" to get a long-term deal with the club.

Still, it doesn't mean that Moody is necessarily going to be part of that future. Last season, both Josh Green and Deni Avdija signed rookie extensions of similar value — three years and $41M for Green, four years and $55M for Avdija — and both were traded this summer. Based on salary-cap rules, it would be difficult for the Warriors to trade Moody this season, meaning that Moody likely has a full season to find his place with the Warriors.

As for Kuminga, the team may see their other 21-year-old from the 2021 draft enter restricted free agency after the season. But a team built around 36-year-old Steph Curry and 34-year-old Draymond Green has now made a long-term commitment to a member of Gen Z. For the next four seasons, the Warriors timeline includes Moses Moody.