Warriors Shift Deadline Strategy After Jimmy Butler ACL Injury
warriors-shift-deadline-strategy
San Francisco — One week before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors are re-evaluating their plans in the wake of Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL tear, general manager Mike Dunleavy acknowledged.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Tops Wish List
League sources said Golden State has contacted the Milwaukee Bucks within the past week to register strong interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo, despite the forward’s current calf strain. The Warriors are prepared to offer up to four first-round picks: 2026, 2028 and 2032 unprotected, plus their 2030 selection if it conveys outside the top 20. Milwaukee could also receive one pick swap under league rules.
Salary matching would likely center on Butler’s $48 million contract, though packages built around Draymond Green and several rotation players remain possible. Jonathan Kuminga, long coveted by the Bucks, and third-year guard Brandin Podziemski could be included to sweeten any proposal. Golden State is also willing to absorb longer deals such as Bobby Portis’ three years and $43.5 million or Kyle Kuzma’s two years and $42.7 million.
Front Office Leans Toward Future Assets
Before Butler’s injury, the Warriors were pursuing minor upgrades to bolster what they viewed as a fringe contender. With title hopes dimmed, their focus has shifted to positioning the roster for 2026-27 and beyond. Dunleavy said all assets are available “if there’s a great player to be had,” but indicated he does not “envision” trading Butler outside a blockbuster scenario.
Limited Interest in Secondary Targets
The team has explored New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III but has been rebuffed, according to league sources. Internal discussions have downplayed reported links to Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. and Miami’s Andrew Wiggins, and the Warriors have no plans to revisit a Wiggins reunion.
Implications for Jonathan Kuminga
Kuminga, earning $22.5 million, was previously viewed as trade bait for short-term help. Butler’s injury has moved the forward into a 20- to 25-minute nightly role once he returns from a bone bruise, making a deadline move less likely. His $24.3 million player option in the summer provides additional flexibility.
Curry-Kerr Era Nears Crossroads
Golden State sits 27-22, eighth in the Western Conference. Head coach Steve Kerr, whose contract expires after the season, said the franchise should only spend assets on “something we can do to give Steph more help” without mortgaging the future. Stephen Curry turns 38 in March, intensifying pressure on management to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term viability.
With the deadline approaching, the Warriors’ willingness to gamble on Antetokounmpo—or pivot to more modest moves—will define both the closing chapters of the Curry-Kerr partnership and the franchise’s next era.
Source: ESPN
