After suffering a major blow to their ambitions following Jimmy Butler's season-ending ACL tear, the Warriors must act quickly on the trade market if they hope to salvage their season. Here are three trades that could help keep them in contention.
The Golden State Warriors' hopes of a deep playoff run have taken a major hit after a season-ending injury to their star, Jimmy Butler.
Golden State Warriors / Schedule
With the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching, the Warriors must act quickly if they hope to swing the season back in their favor.
Amid growing trade speculation—particularly surrounding forward Jonathan Kuminga—Golden State figures to be one of the teams to watch on the trade market in the coming weeks.
Below, we present several proposed trade scenarios in which the Warriors could either remain competitive this season or improve their outlook for the next one, with Jimmy Butler expected to return from injury.
Warriors trade for Domantas Sabonis
Credit Imagn/Scanpix
Full trade:
Warriors receive:
Domantas Sabonis
Keon Ellis
Kings' Top 3 protected 2027 first-round pick
Kings receive:
Jonathan Kuminga
Moses Moody
Buddy Hield
De'Anthony Melton
The trade makes sense for both sides. The Warriors would finally move on from the lingering drama surrounding Jonathan Kuminga, sending him to his preferred destination in Sacramento, while receiving a big man they have desperately needed in Domantas Sabonis.
Golden State would lose some depth—particularly in the backcourt—with Buddy Hield and Moses Moody included in the deal. However, the Warriors would be compensated with a significant asset, acquiring the Kings’ first-round pick in next year’s draft, which would likely fall in the lottery.
While adding Sabonis may not immediately elevate the Warriors into championship contention this season, the move becomes far more intriguing when projecting ahead.
With Jimmy Butler expected to return next year, Sabonis' elite court vision and passing ability could make him an ideal fit alongside Stephen Curry and Golden State’s ball-movement–centric style of play.
Warriors acquire elite scoring firepower from Brooklyn
Credit AP - Scanpix
Warriors receive:
Michael Porter Jr.
Cam Thomas
Nets receive:
Jonathan Kuminga
Moses Moody
Buddy Hield
Gui Santos
Warriors' 2026 lottery protected first-round pick
This deal would be quite risky for the Warriors long term, but if they want to make a solid push in the playoffs this season, this trade could make them an exciting team come postseason time.
Defensively, they would not see much improvement by acquiring Thomas and Porter, but their offensive options would increase, as both players can score and stretch the floor at a high rate.
The main concern for the Warriors is that Thomas is on an expiring deal and would become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Given how much he sought in restricted free agency last offseason, it would be difficult for the Warriors to retain a player like him given their cap situation.
Porter Jr. is also a risky addition due to his injury history and large contract, but based on his play this season, he looks capable of being a serious contributor to a title-contending team.
Meanwhile, the Nets would receive an exciting young duo in Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, along with this year’s first-round draft pick, which would represent a solid return in this case.
Warriors acquire Vucevic and Coby White in three-team deal
Credit Imagn Images – Scanpix
Warriors receive:
Nikola Vucevic
Coby White
Bulls receive:
Jonathan Kuminga
Buddy Hield
Gabe Vincent
Maxi Kleber
Lakers' 2032 second-round pick
Warriors' 2026 lottery protected first-round pick
Lakers receive:
Kevin Huerter
De'Anthony Melton
Probably not the ideal trade when looking at the long-term picture, but if the Warriors are still looking to compete for a title, these additions could help them remain competitive in the playoff race.
They would acquire a quality center in Vucevic, who could significantly help them offensively by providing additional spacing with his shooting ability, while also adding a guard in Coby White who can create for himself and others.
Both players are on expiring deals, meaning that if things don't work out, the Warriors could let them walk in free agency, or, if it does work out, try to retain them using their Bird rights.
The Bulls, on the other hand, would receive an exciting prospect in Kuminga, some draft compensation, and a couple of expiring deals from the Lakers.
The Lakers are also involved in this trade, using a second-round pick to acquire Kevin Huerter from the Bulls, adding some much-needed shooting to their roster.
Edvinas Kuzas
Edvinas Kuzas began his basketball media career in 2025, joining BasketNews as a Daily Writer. He brings a deep understanding of the sport, shaped by years of following both its history and trending topics. Alongside his writing, he is currently pursuing a degree in basketball coaching, further expanding his knowledge of the game. This combination allows him to provide more analytical, insightful, and opinion-based perspectives on basketball.
About author
Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.
If you like our content, please click here and add us as your preferred source. It helps us a lot, and we are committed to delivering you the very latest basketball news.