Klay Thompson is heading into unrestricted free agency, and there’s a strong expectation that the Golden State Warriors will bring back the seasoned sharpshooter. Earlier in the season, Thompson had a series of games where he came off the bench as Coach Steve Kerr experimented with lineup rotations.

Looking ahead to next season, there’s a possibility that Thompson could continue to play a bench role more consistently, with Moses Moody stepping into the starting lineup. Moody has patiently awaited an increased role within the Warriors’ rotation over the past few years.

“It’s possible that someone already on the roster steps up,” Kerr remarked. “We’ve had instances where we started Brandin Podziemski instead of Klay. So there’s flexibility there. Maybe Moses transitions into the starting lineup. He’s a talented player with plenty of potential for growth. He needs to work on decision-making on both ends of the floor, making quicker decisions and rotations defensively, and recognizing patterns.”

The Warriors have a pool of promising young players ready for expanded responsibilities, with Moody being one of them. Given Thompson’s ability to contribute off the bench, Kerr might opt to make that role permanent, provided Thompson stays with the team.

At 21 years old, Moody could thrive in a more significant role for Golden State, particularly if he shares the court with seasoned veterans. Whether Thompson would be open to returning in a bench capacity remains to be seen.