Warriors predicted to cut 6-foot-9 center from rotation after Al Horford’s electric debut

The Golden State Warriors triumphed over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night by a score of 111-103, defeating a Luka Dončić and LeBron James-less group in impressive fashion to kick off their preseason.

Golden State's 4-time NBA champion Stephen Curry scored an efficient 14 points and two-way wing Moses Moody poured in a game-high 19 points in the contest, but it was the Warriors' notable free agent signee Al Horford who stole the show in his debut with the franchise.

Horford displayed his jack-of-all-trades skillset and masterful defensive effort with three points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks in just 15 minutes of burn. Most importantly, he outplayed an incumbent Warriors center aiming to land an increased role throughout the preseason. 

Unfortunately, the Warriors' former No. 57 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft failed to earn trust from the team's coaching staff against Los Angeles and may have even fallen out of head coach Steve Kerr's rotation for the regular season.

"Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis has to face a harsh reality heading into the season," FanSided's Josh Cornelissen wrote Monday afternoon.

"Given the current state of the Warriors' roster, he is not in the rotation and unlikely to find his way into it anytime soon - as the team's first preseason game made clear."

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"It's a gut punch for TJD and his fans right out of the gates. No light at the end of the tunnel."

At just 25 years old, Jackson-Davis has already lost favor from Kerr after authoring an impressive debut season in 2023-24.

As a rookie, the undersized big man averaged 7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 68 appearances and 16 starts, but he took an evident step back as a sophomore this past season.

Jackson-Davis appeared to be a step behind throughout the Warriors' victory over the Lakers, and his effort may have resulted in an unfortunate demotion.

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