Monday’s victory over Miami should have represented a new high point for the 2025/26 Warriors, who registered their fourth consecutive win and moved to six games above .500 (25-19) for the first time this season.
Instead, they’re facing an uncertain second half without star wing Jimmy Butler, who suffered a torn right ACL that will bring his season to an early end and limit the short-term ceiling of this Golden State team.
Even before Butler’s injury, there were questions about the Warriors’ ability to legitimately contend for a title this season. They’ve hovered around .500 for most of the season, and despite their recent hot streak, they still rank just eighth in the West.
Still, if the club had stayed healthy and been able to turn trade candidate Jonathan Kuminga (and maybe a draft pick or two) into another quality rotation player, it wasn’t hard to envision the Warriors securing a playoff spot and becoming a tough out in the postseason. That’s a more difficult outcome to imagine with Butler sidelined the rest of the way.
With 16 days left until February 5, the Warriors will now have to reevaluate their approach to this season’s trade deadline. Kuminga is at the center of those plans. A deal involving the former No. 7 overall pick had long seemed like a foregone conclusion, even before he demanded a change of scenery upon becoming trade-eligible last week.
But with Butler out, could there be a pathway to Kuminga reentering the rotation? The fifth-year forward has been held out of 16 games in a row and has played fewer than 10 total minutes since December 6, but head coach Steve Kerr said on Monday that he’d “absolutely” consider using Kuminga going forward.
According to Nick Friedell of The Athletic, Kuminga declined comment when approached after Monday’s game, but when Kerr was asked if the 23-year-old would be ready to play, the Warriors’ coach simply replied, “Yeah.”
Appearing on SportsCenter (Twitter video link), ESPN’s Shams Charania acknowledged the possibility of Kuminga rejoining the rotation, but cited sources who say the relationship between the forward and Kerr is “fractured beyond repair.” Noting that the Kings are still interested in Kuminga after pursuing him as a restricted free agent over the summer, Charania wonders if the Warriors will instead try to use Kuminga as a trade chip to acquire a replacement for Butler, such as Sacramento’s DeMar DeRozan.
While some teams would transition from buyers to sellers after losing a maximum-salary star to a season-ending injury, that would probably be a last resort in Golden State. The Warriors want to do all they can to make the most of the time they have left with Stephen Curry, who will turn 38 in March.
Besides Kuminga, the Warriors could make players like Buddy Hield ($9.2MM cap hit) and Moses Moody ($11.6MM) available in trade talks, and they have the ability to trade multiple first-round picks and/or swaps — only their 2030 pick is partially constricted (it’ll be sent to Washington if it falls outside of the top 20).
Still, Golden State is currently operating within $300K of its second-apron hard cap and will have limited financial flexibility in trade discussions. Additionally, Butler’s contract ($54.1MM this season; $56.8MM in 2026/27) will be problematic — he won’t have any value on the trade market following his ACL tear, but building a roster capable of winning playoff series will be extremely difficult as long as his contract remains on the books and he remains off the court.
We want to know what you think. What’s next for the Warriors after Butler’s injury? Will we see Kuminga on the floor as a Warrior again? What should Golden State do at the trade deadline?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts and predictions!
Fire sale!
I’d trade them all away including Steph. He’s 38 years old. It’s over. Take the draft picks and follow OKC’s model.
At this point the team is more lipstick than pig
Lmfao
we know you were happy to see him go down with your hatred for the warriors.
Dubs are kill….
The Warriors wanted a pick and a rotation player for Kuminga last summer. They had no takers. Does anyone think that will happen now?
My prediction is that they’ll struggle to get anyone of genuine use in return for Kuminga. Steph will put his cape on and play big minutes to keep them afloat, which he will for awhile, until he pings a hammy. They’ll fall back into the play in.They’ll make it out of the play in, only to get crushed by the Thunder.
Warriors need someone from their bench to step up in a big way. Not sure if any of them have it in them any more or even will.
warriors can file for a cap exception since Butler makes so much. That will help them bring in a player. problem is Butler was their 2nd best player so even with a trade they will be down a player. Worse time to have this bad of an injury with the team finally gel and playing their best ball.
the deadline for that exception passed on the 15th
Trade for LeBron!
After next season, they had one player signed. Might as well start the process. Since Butler won’t be ready until the end of next season when his contract expires, buy him out. Tank the rest of season and get a better draft position. Maybe they’ll have some cap space in the summer. Time to find the next Klay/Draymond/Steph.
I love when I’m on tbe right side of history
I’ve always said signing a 36 year old injury prone player for multiple years was a terrible idea. Jimmy was already untradeable and now with this injury he is even more.
The Warriors windows closed once they extended him and it was very clear by anyone that understands basketball.