Analysis: The Warriors biggest mistakes made in the early stages of the NBA free agent market in 2025

The Warriors lost Kevin Rooney and despite the opportunity to make some moves in the 2025 NBA free agent market, they failed to act quickly.

At the 2025 NBA Draft, the Warriors' lineup was not much upgraded, which is disappointing. Therefore, when they entered the free agent market, they made their priority clear. They hope to figure out Jonathan Cumingga’s contract situation while finding room for the team that is eager to compete for the championship to further enhance players.

However, with the free agent market getting off to a turbulent start, the Warriors may have made some key mistakes. First and foremost, the Warriors lost their veteran center Kevin Rooney, who eventually signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

In addition, although there are several stars to supplement the roster, the team doesn't seem to have much change, meaning the Warriors may have struggled to keep up with other teams in the Western Conference. The Warriors lost Kevin Rooney and may not introduce Damian Lillard

Although Rooney's departure does not seem to be a major loss, it is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Warriors. In 76 games last season, the three-time NBA champion averaged 4.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, mainly playing as a substitute.

Considering that Draymond Green has been placed in the bench center position, which is not his position, the further decline in frontcourt height is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Golden State Warriors. The team has been in touch with former Boston Celtics big man Al Horford, but he has also received interest from many different clubs.

If the Warriors can't find Horford or other substitute big guys to replace Looney, the loss will be even heavier this time. Even so, letting Looney go was obviously the Golden State Warriors' biggest mistake to date.

Another problem is that, given their lack of financial flexibility, it is not surprising that the Warriors cannot expand their roster. A player like Damian Lillard who was shockingly cut by the Milwaukee Bucks seems to be the team's must-try. The Bucks decided to extend Lillard's $113 million contract to five years, and competitors could easily sign him at a low price. On the surface, the Warriors seem to be a natural ending point, because the team's current lineup is arranged reasonably, and players such as Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Green are all approaching the end of their careers.

This means the Warriors can easily help Lillard recover from a torn Achilles tendon injury in the 2025-26 season and sign the nine-time All-Star at a low price. It was undoubtedly a major victory, but so far, the Golden State Warriors have not made any effort to the signing.

Considering that the Warriors did not bring an immediate impact after the draft, Curry and his teammates will be worried about the management, as it is unlikely that Alex Tooch and Will Richard will contribute immediately. The Warriors need to act quickly to increase the depth of the center position, and it is worth noting that they may still lose Kuminga in free agency.

The Golden State Warriors sent a qualified offer of $7.9 million to Kumingga and hoped to test the player's market conditions. Since he is a restricted free agent, the Warriors can match any offer he receives. Considering that Coominga just had a mixed season, and head coach Steve Cole rarely used him at times, the Warriors’ plans for him remain to be seen.

Considering the potential investment in Cumingga, and the potential targets they have missed (such as Brooke Lopez, Bruce Brown and Nikil Alexander Walker), it is safe to say that the Warriors have made some mistakes in the early stages of the free agent market.

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