Horford was expected to be a key piece for Golden State when he first arrived, but injuries and limited minutes led to a shaky start to the season and limited his ability to establish an early rhythm. But these days, Horford’s role is stable and so is his influence. He played 24 minutes in last night’s win over Utah, recording nine points, eight assists, five rebounds, one steal, and three blocks, finishing with a plus-minus of 22, second-best on the team.

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In a post-Butler world, Horford has provided exactly what the Warriors need in their five-man. His ability to stretch the floor opens up driving lanes for Golden State’s guards, and his positioning and communication have helped alleviate some of the defensive strain created by Butler’s absence. Kerr also specifically pointed to Horford’s fit next to Draymond Green as a big plus. The combination of Horford and Green gives the Warriors two big players with high IQ and versatility in the front court. They are players who can switch defensively, read quickly offensively, and keep the ball moving without sacrificing structure.

As the Warriors continue to search for consistency, it makes sense to lean on a proven veteran like Horford, at least until the roster becomes more clear after the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.

For more on this and other NBA news, check out our latest news roundup for Thursday, January 29th:

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What I learned from Stephen Curry and the Warriors’ win over the Jazz | NBC Sports Bay Area

What’s more, it’s clear that Horford’s presence on the defensive end makes Green better on that front.

Could Horford be Golden State’s permanent starting center? Yes, but there are some caveats. He never plays on either side of consecutive sets. The biggest thing that could happen is that he becomes a “major” center.

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Warriors’ biggest questions ahead of NBA trade deadline | ESPN

But the Bucks are in the driver’s seat of a car full of speculation, and could trade Antetokounmpo within the next week or wait until the market is more robust in the summer. If they choose to strike now, the Warriors likely have the most attractive pick package among the expected aggressive suitors. League executives believe the sooner Milwaukee acts, the better chance Golden State will win the bidding war.

The Warriors can offer up to four first-rounders: 2026, 2028, 2032 without protection, and 2030 if it’s in the 1-20 range (because the top 20 are protected). washington as part of jordan pool (due to the Chris Paul trade). Because Milwaukee took out the pick, they could only dictate one exchange for an additional pick.

Stephen Curry on Warriors trade rumors: ‘I’ll never get into hypotheticals’