The Golden State Warriors aren’t missing defensive prowess or general toughness with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler on the roster, but the center position could use a hit of both heading into next season — not to mention some extra rebounding and size.
Finding that player will be among Golden State’s top priorities this summer, as Bobby Marks of ESPN on Friday, June 28, identified the team’s top two needs as rim protection and front-court depth. Marks authored a trade proposal with the Eastern Conference finalist New York Knicks that meets both of those requirements.
“Trade Moses Moody to the Knicks for Mitchell Robinson,” Marks wrote.
Mitchell Robinson What Warriors Need on Defense, Creates Offensive Issues With Imperfect Fit
GettyNew York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson.
Robinson has had injury issues over the last couple of seasons, but he’s been the defensive anchor for the Knicks when healthy — including during a postseason run in 2025 that saw New York fall just two wins shy of an NBA Finals appearance.
For his career, the 27-year-old center is averaging 7.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks across 24.1 minutes per game. Robinson’s ability to protect the rim would be of paramount importance in Golden State, and his offensive rebounding would add possessions for a Warriors’ offense that could use them.
That said, Robinson is far from an ideal fit offensively. He has never attempted a 3-point shot in his 377 career regular-season appearances and would exacerbate spacing issues in lineups with Green, Butler or both.
Robinson is also a liability at the free throw line, shooting just over 52% from the stripe for his career. The Indiana Pacers resorted to fouling Robinson intentionally during the Eastern Conference Finals, which mitigated his time on the court and overall impact on the series.
But Robinson has just one season remaining on his four-year, $60 million contract, so the Warriors wouldn’t be locked in beyond the 2025-26 campaign if his fit didn’t work out.
Moses Moody Among Warriors’ Most Tradable Players
Getty Moses Moody of the Golden State Warriors.
Moody, who will play next season at 23 years old, has developed within head coach Steve Kerr’s system, leading to a career year across the board in his fourth season since the Warriors selected Moody out of Arkansas with the No. 14 overall pick.
His year included 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.8 steals in 22.3 minutes of playing time across 74 contests played (34 starts), per Basketball Reference. He also shot a career-best 37.4% from behind the 3-point line.
However, Moody’s usage dipped in the playoffs to 20.9 minutes per game in Round 1 against the Houston Rockets and just 9.4 minutes per contest in the team’s second-round defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Golden State signed the shooting guard to a three-year extension in October 2024 worth $37.5 million total that keeps him under contract through 2027-28. However, given Brandin Podziemski’s place ahead of Moody on the depth chart and Buddy Hield’s presence on the roster, Moody is a player the Warriors can afford to trade — particularly if that means securing a center like Robinson at the franchise’s position of greatest need.
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