Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images
Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are no longer operating with the same clarity they had a week ago.
Jimmy Butler‘s season-ending ACL tear has forced the front office into a position it did not anticipate. Now, the entire framework around the season might have shifted.
The Warriors will need to decide what path they take next.
And if they still choose to retool rather than rebuild, a recent idea from the Warriors Plus Minus podcast enters the conversation.
Warriors Plus Minus Suggests New Trade Target
“Now you go get Jaren Jackson Jr…it’s gonna cost you some picks but he’s 26 years old,” Marcus Thompson said, on the podcast.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game this season for the Memphis Grizzlies. He is a former defensive player of the year who provides rim protection, perimeter defense, and floor spacing. Before Butler went down, Jackson would have made sense as a third option.
Now, the question might shift to whether he moves the needle enough. Butler was averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting 51.9% from the field. Losing him removes a foundational piece. The Warriors are 25-20 and holding the eighth seed.
Without Butler, the supporting cast looks thin.
Jackson would be asked to be the second option behind Stephen Curry in Golden State. While he has worked in that role in Memphis, his scoring has gone down this year, and there is no guarantee he can carry the load consistently against the West’s top teams.
If the Warriors are serious about competing for a championship, they may need to aim higher. Anthony Davis has been rumored as a potential target. Davis would give the Warriors a legitimate second star alongside Curry. The cost would be substantial, but if the goal is maximizing Curry’s window, Davis might make more sense than Jackson.
NBA Retweet
Updated NBA Trade Block Big Board, per @BleacherReport
1. Jaren Jackson Jr. 2. Trey Murphy III 3. Michael Porter Jr. 4. Anthony Davis 5. Domantas Sabonis 6. Jonathan Kuminga 7. Coby White 8. Zach LaVine 9. Ja Morant 10. Herb Jones
Should the Warriors Reset Instead?
The alternative is stepping back entirely.
Butler is 36 years old and coming off a torn ACL. Curry is 38 and still elite, but his window is closing. Draymond Green is 36 and no longer the offensive threat he once was.
If the Warriors decide this core is no longer viable, the smarter play might be preservation. Keep Jonathan Kuminga and the draft picks. Ride out the season. Let contracts expire and begin building around younger pieces.
General manager Mike Dunleavy has signaled patience in recent comments, saying he does not envision trading Butler’s contract and believes the veteran forward will return next season. But patience does not change the reality on the floor. Without Butler, the Warriors are not a championship contender.
Shams Charania
Breaking: Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler has suffered a season-ending torn right ACL, sources tell ESPN.
How a Trade Could Work
If the Warriors decide Jackson is the right move, a realistic framework would send him to Golden State in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga, one-or-two rotation pieces and draft picks.
Memphis is reportedly exploring a reset after shopping Ja Morant. If the Grizzlies commit to a rebuild, Jackson becomes available. His contract runs through the 2026-27 season, but if he signals he wants to compete now, Memphis may move him while his value is high.
The cost is steep. Kuminga has requested a trade, but the draft picks hurt. The question is whether the Warriors believe Jackson makes them competitive enough to justify it.
NBACentral
“When you make a demand, there needs to be demand.” 😬
— Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy on Jonathan Kuminga’s trade demand
(Via @anthonyVslater )
Final Word for the Warriors
Jaren Jackson Jr. makes sense for the Warriors in a vacuum. He is 26 years old, can defend at an elite level, and spaces the floor.
But the Warriors are not operating in a vacuum. Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear has forced them to reassess everything. Does Jackson move the needle enough? Should they target another piece? Or should they reset around younger pieces?
Butler’s injury has left the Warriors in a difficult position. They are not out of contention, but they are no longer clear contenders. The Warriors Plus Minus podcast raised the question. Whether Jackson is the answer depends on what question the Warriors are trying to solve.