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In February, Levi’s Stadium will host Super Bowl 60, the Warriors may shake up their roster on the NBA commerce deadline, and new Giants supervisor Tony Vitello will open his first spring coaching.
It’s a large month, however what occurs in January will form our expectations for all that lies forward.
In the approaching weeks, we’ll see if the 49ers win sufficient video games to give Fred Warner an opportunity to return, if Jonathan Kuminga can reenter the Warriors’ rotation, and if Buster Posey could make a marquee offseason acquisition for the Giants.
Here are 5 Bay Area sports figures to watch this month.
Fred Warner
The 49ers’ star linebacker and future Hall of Famer dislocated his ankle in October and his season was supposed to be over. No one anticipated a group with out Nick Bosa and Warner to play deep into January anyway, however San Francisco’s shock surge and Warner’s spirited rehab course of have saved the potential for a postseason return on the desk.
If Warner is wholesome sufficient to play in a possible NFC Championship Game, he’ll stabilize a protection that’s been overmatched in opposition to the league’s greatest offenses. As lengthy as quarterback Brock Purdy retains the 49ers’ offense buzzing, probably the greatest protection linebackers of his era might be the last word playoff X-factor.
Mike Dunleavy
From the surface, it seems the Warriors’ normal supervisor is in an inconceivable place. He has to enhance Golden State’s roster with out sacrificing too many invaluable belongings, all whereas maintaining proprietor Joe Lacob and coach Steve Kerr joyful.
The path ahead nearly actually entails discovering a brand new group for Kuminga, however there’s no clear touchdown spot. Would Dunleavy think about shifting Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler in a deal to purchase one other celebrity who may help construct a bridge to the longer term?
The backside line is that Dunleavy may have to ruffle feathers, however doing so can be a worthwhile endeavor if he may give Steph Curry extra assist. Whatever occurs in the post-Curry period could be the issue for a special GM anyway.
Greg Johnson
The Giants’ chairman spoke with The Standard’s John Shea and Tim Kawakami in October and hinted that the team might not spend aggressively this offseason. After the entrance workplace made a number of lower-profile strikes comparable to signing Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle, it seems he wasn’t kidding.
It’s a idiot’s errand to decide a group’s potential earlier than the beginning of spring coaching, however the Giants have completed nothing to point out they’ll be higher in 2026 than they’ve been in the final 4 disappointing seasons.
If Johnson doesn’t give Buster Posey the assets to construct a greater roster, it’s laborious to envision Posey wanting to do that job for for much longer.
Zaileen Janmohamed
If you don’t know Janmohamed’s name yet, you will soon (opens in new tab). The president and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee performed a number one position in the area touchdown the Super Bowl and the World Cup.
Even if Super Bowl festivities received’t start after the NFC and AFC title video games later this month, Janmohamed will doubtless start a media tour touting the entire upcoming occasions – the Pro Bowl, NFL Honors, a live performance sequence, and extra – in the close to future.
Tosh Lupoi
GM Ron Rivera employed the Cal alum and former Jeff Tedford assistant in massive half as a result of he’s an elite recruiter. The switch portal formally opened Friday morning and it’s crucial that Lupoi and his pool of high-profile assistants begin utilizing the monetary assets Rivera has helped accumulate to add impression gamers.
It’s unlikely Andrew Luck, Tavita Pritchard, and Stanford will ever be as aggressive in the portal as most ACC groups, however Cal might be totally different. Lupoi will present us precisely how totally different very quickly.