Warriors Willing to Trade Future Picks for a Star Player

The Golden State Warriors lost Jimmy Butler to a season-ending ACL tear Monday night. The injury leaves a massive hole in Golden State’s roster and raises serious questions about whether the Warriors can compete for a playoff spot without their second-best player. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. addressed the situation Tuesday night, and he made it clear the Warriors are willing to be aggressive before the February 5 trade deadline. “Our picks always will and have been in play,” Dunleavy said Tuesday night, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “To give up our picks, it’s got to be meaningful to get something back. So, for that reason, there’s only so many players out there that probably warrant putting stuff like that on the table.” Dunleavy continued: “But we’re looking at everything. Joe Lacob is our owner, so you’re always exploring all possibilities, willing to do any type of deal.” The Warriors are 25-20 and sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. Butler’s absence makes it unlikely they will rise any higher in the standings. And without Butler, Golden State’s playoff hopes are in serious jeopardy. Dunleavy knows the Warriors need to make a move. The question is whether they can find a deal that makes sense. What Kind of Player Would Warrant Trading Future Picks Dunleavy made it clear the Warriors will not give up future first-round picks for just any player. The return would need to be significant. An All-Star or a player with clear All-Star potential. Someone who can contribute immediately and fit alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. “If we’re talking about trading draft picks that will be going out when Steph isn’t here,” Dunleavy said, “it’s going to have to be a player that we think we’ll be getting back that is going to be here when those picks are going out. And that player’s going to have to be pretty impactful.” Dunleavy added: “So, it would take a good amount, positionally, play style, archetype, all that. I would leave it pretty broad and open. But if there’s a great player to be had, we’ve got everything in the war chest that we would be willing to use.” The type of player Dunleavy is describing falls into a narrow tier. Giannis Antetokounmpo represents the top end of that spectrum. A two-time MVP and perennial All-Star, Giannis would immediately reset Golden State’s ceiling and fit the definition of a franchise-altering addition. Lauri Markkanen is another name that aligns with Dunleavy’s criteria. A high-level scorer who can stretch the floor, Markkanen is averaging over 20 points per game and would directly address Golden State’s spacing concerns while providing reliable offensive production. Trey Murphy III also fits the archetype Dunleavy outlined. A young, versatile wing who can shoot and defend, Murphy would offer two-way impact and lineup flexibility while still aligning with the Warriors’ longer-term timeline. Players such as Michael Porter Jr. occupy a different tier. Porter is a very good player and proven scorer, but he does not rise to the level of the franchise-altering talent Dunleavy is describing when discussing the use of multiple future first-round picks. The Warriors are not going to trade future picks for a marginal upgrade. They need someone who can replace Butler’s production and help them compete for a playoff spot this season. That is a high bar, and it is unclear if any player fitting that description is even available. Why the Warriors Need to Act Now Curry is 37 years old. His window to compete for another championship is closing. The Warriors know this, and Dunleavy’s comments reflect the urgency the organization feels. Golden State won 11 of its last 15 games before Butler went down. The team was building momentum and looked like a legitimate playoff contender. Butler’s injury changed that. Without him, the Warriors are significantly weaker and far less likely to make any noise in the postseason. Doing nothing is not an option. Curry deserves better than watching his final years wasted on a mediocre team that cannot compete when it matters most. The Warriors brought Butler in last February to maximize Curry’s remaining prime years. They gave up Andrew Wiggins and a 2025 first-round pick to make that deal. Owner Joe Lacob authorized the trade because he believed Butler could help the Warriors compete for a title. Now, with Butler out for the season, the Warriors must decide whether to double down and trade more future assets for another impact player. Lacob has a “shoot-for-stars” mentality, according to Dunleavy, which suggests the owner would be willing to authorize another significant move if the right player becomes available. The Warriors’ Draft History Suggests Picks Are Not Untouchable The Warriors’ recent draft history is mixed at best. Jonathan Kuminga was selected seventh overall in 2021. He has shown flashes of talent but has never developed into a consistent contributor. The fit alongside Butler and Green was problematic, and Kuminga demanded a trade earlier this month. Moses Moody was selected 14th overall in 2021. He has been a solid role player but has not developed into a star. Brandin Podziemski was selected 19th overall in 2023. He has shown promise but is still early in his development. The Warriors have drafted well at times, but their recent picks have not delivered franchise-changing talent. That makes future first-round picks less valuable than they might seem on paper. If the Warriors believe they can trade a future pick for a proven player who can help them compete now, that is a trade worth making. The post-Curry future does not look bright for Golden State. The Warriors do not have a clear succession plan, and the roster is aging. Trading future picks makes sense if it gives Curry one more chance to compete for a championship. Will Golden State Actually Pull the Trigger? Dunleavy’s comments suggest the Warriors are open to making a significant move. But being open to something and actually doing it are two different things. The Warriors need to find a trade partner willing to part with an impact player. They need to identify a player who fits alongside Curry and Green. And they need to be willing to part with future assets for a win-now move. All of that is easier said than done. The trade market is limited. Most teams are not willing to part with their best players mid-season. And the players who are available might not be worth the price the Warriors would have to pay. Dunleavy acknowledged that losing Butler makes the Warriors “infinitely weaker.” He also admitted that anything short of a significant trade would be “patchwork” and a “band-aid.” The Warriors need more than a band-aid. They need a real solution. And Dunleavy knows it. Whether the Warriors can find that solution before the February 5 deadline remains to be seen. But Dunleavy made it clear Tuesday that the team is willing to do whatever it takes. Final Word for the Warriors The Warriors are willing to trade future first-round draft picks for an impact player. Mike Dunleavy Jr. made that clear Tuesday night, emphasizing that the team is exploring all possibilities following Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL tear. The Warriors need to replace Butler’s production if they want to compete for a playoff spot this season. Dunleavy stressed that the return would need to be significant. An All-Star or a player with clear All-Star potential. Someone who can contribute immediately and fit alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Whether the Warriors can find that player before the deadline is uncertain. But Dunleavy’s comments make it clear that Golden State is willing to be aggressive. The team knows Curry’s window is closing, and they are prepared to trade future assets for a chance to compete now. For the Warriors, doing nothing is not an option. The only question is whether they can find a deal that makes sense.