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By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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A key Golden State Warriors wing has undergone a surprise surgery prior to a crucial summer for the franchise.
The Warriors were transformed back into instant fringe contenders at the 2024-25 season's trade deadline, when the team offloaded swingman Andrew Wiggins, one draft pick, and forward Kyle Anderson in a blockbuster, multi-team deal to bring in six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler — after a bitter breakup with the Miami Heat.
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Now, after a brisk five-game defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves (mostly without their best player, Stephen Curry, who went down in Game 1 with a hamstring strain), the Warriors face an uncertain offseason.
And that offseason just got a bit more complicated.
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Per a Golden State press release, Warriors guard Moses Moody had surgery for a torn right thumb Ulnar Collateral ligament on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The 6-foot-5 wing had a critical role for the Warriors during the first round of their playoff run this spring, before slowly falling out of favor with head coach Steve Kerr heading into the brief Timberwolves playoff series.
Moody, who had started at small forward in each of Golden State's first two playoff games against Houston, was shifted into a reserve role for Game 3. He averaged 11.2 points on .421/.387/.875 shooting splits, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks across the Warriors' first six games in that series.
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Things took a turn after that. He scored no points in a shade under 11 minutes during Golden State's closeout Game 7 win over Houston. Across that contest and in the Timberwolves series (i.e. in his final six games of the playoffs), Moody averaged a scant 3.0 points while slashing .174/.214/.778, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 9.7 minutes per game.
Moody, who was selected with the No. 14 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Arkansas, inked a three-season, $39 million rookie scale contract extension with the team ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The fourth-year swingman proceeded to submit his best regular season yet.
Across 74 healthy regular season contests (34 starts), the 22-year-old averaged a career-best 9.8 points on .433/.374/.797 shooting splits, 1.3 assists, and 0.8 steals a night for the 48-34 Warriors. He also notched 2.6 boards per bout.
A solid, athletic defender along the wing, Moody's inconsistent offense ultimately cost him during this past postseason. But his health could prove critical in a team-building context this summer.
The Warriors are explicitly looking to add a legitimate rim protector after getting utterly dominated in the post during the playoffs. Moody's contract and upside could make him a critical trade chip — if a rival team is convinced he'll be healthy in time to contribute early into the 2025-26 season.
More Golden State Warriors News:
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Seemingly Hints at Plan For Jonathan Kuminga's Future
Former Heat Star Calls Out Jimmy Butler After Warriors Playoff Exit
Warriors Are Reportedly Already Preparing to Trade for Celtics Star
Dwyane Wade Offers Blunt Reaction to Jimmy Butler's Playoff Run
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