After the Golden State Warriors traded away Andrew Wiggins for Jimmy Butler, one player has stepped up in recent weeks to fill the void.
When the Golden State Warriors traded a smattering of role-players and draft picks, along with Andrew Wiggins, for Jimmy Butler, the deal immediately paid off. Since Butler arrived, the Warriors went 23-7, and look the part of a title contender.
After making their way through the NBA play-in tournament, the Dubs beat the Houston Rockets in Game 1, 95-85. In a defensive slugfest, Stephen Curry scored 31 points and Butler offered 25 of his own, but it was the Warriors’ defense that pushed them past Houston.
Neither Jalen Green nor Fred VanVleet posted more than 10 points, and an overlooked player has emerged as one of the best defenders on the Warriors, one of the best team defenses in the league.
Moses Moody emerges as a point-of-attack defender
Moses Moody, since Butler came to the team, has stepped into a bigger role. Not only did he start 29 of the last 30 games, but he also improved his own game, especially on defense.
Against the Rockets, he was tasked with guarding Jalen Green for most of the game, and held him to seven points on 3-of-15 shooting, earning high praise.
“The last 20 games, he has moved over to the four spot before Jimmy got here, but since Jimmy Butler arrived, he’s really picked up where Andrew Wiggins has left off, taking the opposing team’s best perimeter player,” said Chris Mullen. “
That’s a huge factor, when VanVleet and Jalen Green struggle like that, then you can overcome their second chance points.”
The Warriors, led by Butler, Curry, and often Brandin Podziemski, have plenty of scoring options, so Moody can just be asked to focus on defense, where he excels.
“There’s a reason why they play Moses Moody so many minutes,” added Festus Ezeli. “People watch the box score and looking at the points, no, he’s in the game to stop one of the best premier scorers in Jalen Green. The game is different when Jalen Green gets going, from the 3-point line, to getting to the paint.”
Green is one of the streakiest players in the NBA, but is capable of scoring 35 points on any given night. Moody’s defense totally removed that threat.
“Moses Moody, that was his sole assignment, just point of defense, point of attack, defense on the main ball handler,” Ezeli finished.
“Sometimes we saw him on Jalen Green, sometimes we saw him on Fred VanVleet, I thought he did an incredible job just the whole game long, just being there, being stuck to those guys.”
Moses Moody is a key part of the Golden State Warriors’ future
During the 2024 offseason, the Warriors extended Moody for three seasons, where he will make $37.5 million over those three years. They were unable to agree to a similar extension with Jonathan Kuminga, and his modest salary makes him easy to keep on the roster even as the Warriors get closer to the second apron.
Moody has found success this season as a defensive stopper with both the starters and reserves, and the Warriors seem to have a very limited window.
Curry, Butler, and Green are all under contract for only three more seasons. The Warriors will be building a roster around that trio of stars in an attempt to add another banner or two to Chase Center. Moody, unlike Kuminga, has proven that he can fit in.
Of course, his trade value this summer will be at an all-time high, although Golden State likely isn’t interested in adding another superstar, so high-quality role players will be the priority, and Moody fits the bill.
