How much can Moses Moody help the Warriors in his rookie season?

The #14 pick looked smooth in Summer League; how will that translate to a team with title aspirations?

The Golden State Warriors appear to have, well, struck gold in the 2021 NBA Draft. Their #7 selection Jonathan Kuminga brought a ton of excitement to NBA Summer League, but it’s actually their #14 pick Moses Moody that pundits claim is closer to being ready to contribute ASAP.

Moody certainly looked like a piece that could fit into the Warriors schemes quickly. He averaged 16.3 PPG on 42.9% shooting (37% from downtown) during Summer League, showing flashes of a cerebral offensive game that made me wonder if the Warriors had drafted the second coming of Bradley Beal.

What They’re Saying About Moody

I scoured the interwebs for some Moody reactions. Peter O’Keefe of Blue Man Hoop said this:

Moody looks like he could play alongside the Warriors core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, someone that can step in and make the right play at the right time. Although he’d still likely only play 15-20 minutes, from a rotation standpoint it may make sense to start him.

Kendra Andrews of NBC Sports shared this quote from Warriors Summer League coach Kris Weems:

He’s figured out ways to get his shot off, he’s an underrated driver, so he can get to the basket, he’s got a big, strong frame and now it’s just got to be like, can I make quick decisions and play off of some of these guys like Steph and Klay and Draymond,” Weems said. “But he’s gotten a whole lot better over the course of the time here.

Brenden Kleen of Uproxx wrote this:

Despite an iffy NCAA Tournament with Arkansas and some questions about his upside, Moody came to Las Vegas with a starting spot on the summer Warriors and has excelled in his role. Moody just turned 19 at the end of May, meaning he has plenty of time to grow into his game. But seeing a skilled 19-year-old who was billed as a high-floor wing coming out of the Draft should make the Warriors’ front office thrilled.

It looks as if the shot is likely to translate to the NBA — a great sign for his ability to contribute early on — and he is already looking comfortable enough to try some other stuff, too.

What say you about Moody so far?

He seems like a natural scoring complement to the dribble penetration of Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Jordan Poole. If the defense leaves Moody open he has the confidence to get shots up in a hurry.

And after being considered one of the best 3-and-D prospects in the draft, he showed the defensive awareness that could keep him on the floor during big-time moments during the season.

If Moody grows into his potential, everybody’s gonna know be real familiar with his name. Even Kendrick Perkins.