Moses Moody faces massive new challenge after Malcolm Brogdon snubs Warriors
When Malcolm Brogdon signed with the New York Knicks, Moses Moody immediately emerged as the player facing the most pressure to help the Golden State Warriors overcome the loss of a top free agent target. Brogdon has his share of injury concerns, but when healthy, he's the epitome of what Golden State needed.
A well-rounded guard who can attack the basket, space the floor, and defend at a respectable level, Brogdon is everything the Warriors now need Moody to become.
Golden State is in a unique position as a team that's built to win a playoff series against any team it encounters, but not ideally equipped for the grind of the regular season. Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green are all 35 or older, and injury histories are becoming more relevant by the day.
Butler, for instance, has missed at least 20 games in four of the past five seasons—a statistical epitomization of how badly Golden State needs its supporting cast to ease the burden.
Signing Brogdon would've went a long way toward simplifying matters. Assuming he could remain healthy, his ability to balance dribble penetration with elite catch-and-shoot efficiency would've allowed the Warriors to run offensive sets that didn't necessarily rely on their stars.
Brandin Podziemski and the still-unsigned Jonathan Kuminga will carry burdens of their own, but Moody must offset the inability to sign Brogdon by excelling in those very areas.
Moses Moody must improve on-ball value for Warriors to contend
Moody, 23, is coming off of the most productive regular season of his career. He averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.7 three-point field goals made, with all but his rebounding numbers marking new career-best statistics.
Moody also set career-best shooting marks at 37.4 percent from beyond the arc and 79.7 percent at the free-throw line.
Unfortunately, Moody's momentum came to a grinding halt when he shot 35.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range during the playoffs. It was a disappointing display from an up-and-comer whom the Warriors had hoped was ready for bigger minutes.
It was also a glimpse into one of the issues that Moody's improved three-point shooting overshadowed: A quiet decline on twos.
Moody shot 51.9 percent on two-point field goals in 2024-25—down from the 55.5 percent mark he posted in 2023-24. The upside is that he shot 48.5 percent on drives, thus suggesting he can turn that into a consistent manner in which he generates points.
The hurdle Moody faces in making that dream a reality: Improving his midrange game after shooting just 28.0 percent on shots from within the arc that weren't attempted within the restricted area.
Perhaps it's too much to put on a 23-year-old player who's still refining the areas in which he excels. Losing Brogdon means failing to acquire a player who could've transformed the Warriors' offense, however, and Moody signed a long-term deal due to the upside that suggests he'll steadily improve.
If Moody can continue to improve his three-point shooting while becoming a more reliable offensive option with the ball in his hands, missing out on Brogdon may not be as devastating as it seems.
Broncos’ Evan Engram, Dre Greenlaw get mixed injury update before Week 2 Colts showdown
The Denver Broncos are getting a mixed injury report on Friday as they prepare to take on the Indianapolis Colts
Both teams are 1-0 and have a chance to be playoff-caliber teams in 2025-26. Denver barely snuck by the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, while the Colts demolished the Miami Dolphins with a perfect game. This battle on Sunday could have playoff implications come winter.
The Broncos' injury report against the Colts could be concerning.
Tight end Evan Engram will be active. He will be a major weapon to Bo Nix and the offense once he gets settled with his new team. Linebacker Alex Singleton and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers are also full practice participants and should be good to go for this Sunday as well.
Star linebacker Dre Greenlaw is out once again. The former San Francisco 49er did not play against the Titans in Week 1 and will eventually make his debut with the team. It could be next week against the Los Angeles Chargers in their first AFC West matchup of the season. Tight end Nate Adkins is also out against the Colts.
Some believed QB Bo Nix was awful against the Titans in Week 1. You could make an argument that every single game he played as a rookie was better than the one he played last Sunday. However, he has a very long career ahead of him. The future is bright, especially with head coach Sean Payton around. The Broncos turned the ball over four times and still won, and did not allow the Titans to score a touchdown.
Ugly wins are not pretty, but you will always take an ugly win in Week 1. You can build from it. Many teams struggle early in the season, but seeing a W in the win column is what matters.
