Steph Curry, Warriors, Steve Kerr, Draymond Green
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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the bench during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 18, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Stephen Curry did not sugarcoat the Golden State Warriors’ reality after the NBA trade deadline passed without a franchise-altering deal.
Asked by ESPN’s Anthony Slater whether he was content with the state of the Warriors following a failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Curry delivered a blunt answer.
“No,” Curry said. “I’d rather have Jimmy Butler playing basketball. But it’s our hurdle to overcome as a team. Three weeks ago, we were heading in a certain direction. The record scratched and stopped, and now you’re trying to figure out how to get it going again.”
Butler Injury Alters Warriors’ Trajectory
Curry’s frustration traces directly to the loss of Butler, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear on Jan. 19 against his former team, the Miami Heat.
Before the injury, Golden State was surging. The Warriors had won 12 of their previous 16 games, climbing back into postseason relevance behind Butler’s stabilizing presence on both ends of the floor.
At 36, Butler was averaging 21.3 points per game in January, shooting an efficient 53 percent from the field. He scored 17 points in just 21 minutes against Miami before exiting with the injury.
Since Butler went down, the Warriors are 3-5, a record that reflects both the loss of production and leadership.
Curry Stops Short of Criticizing Front Office
While Curry acknowledged dissatisfaction with the current situation, he did not direct blame at the front office or question its aggressiveness.
“Deadline is always tricky because you’re trying to make the right appropriate move,” Curry said. “Everything is obviously in the context of Jimmy’s injury and what’s possible.”
Golden State explored the market extensively but ultimately faced limits once Milwaukee signaled it would not move Antetokounmpo in-season.
Warriors’ Giannis Pursuit Falls Short
The Warriors made a serious push for Antetokounmpo before pivoting.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Golden State’s offer for Antetokounmpo was significant, centered on Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Milwaukee native Brandin Podziemski, and substantial draft capital.
Golden State entered the deadline with four first-round picks and a pick swap, one of the league’s deepest asset pools. Still, the Milwaukee Bucks showed no appetite for moving their two-time MVP during the season.
Porziņģis Pivot Defines Deadline Outcome
With the Giannis path closed, the Warriors pivoted late, acquiring former All-Star center Kristaps Porziņģis ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
Golden State sent Kuminga and Buddy Hield in the deal, while preserving future flexibility for another potential star chase this summer.
Porziņģis arrives with medical questions. He missed 13 consecutive games prior to the trade — 12 due to left Achilles tendinitis — and has appeared in just 17 games this season after playing 42 last year.
Still, Golden State accepted the risk once its primary target was unavailable.
“They get a high-upside big man if Kristaps Porziņģis can be on the floor,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said on SportsCenter. “They’re excited about him. They had targeted him for the last few months.”
Frontcourt Reshaped for Stretch Run
Golden State further reshaped its frontcourt by trading Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2026 second-round pick.
That leaves Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Quinten Post as the primary center rotation alongside Draymond Green, who ultimately remained in Golden State after anxious moments at the deadline.
“I like it,” Green said. “Add more size. More rim protection, more shooting. If you switch guards on Porziņģis, he really punishes them. He was the missing piece to a Boston championship.”
Bigger Picture Still Unfolding
Porziņģis is on an expiring $30.7 million contract, preserving Golden State’s long-term flexibility and keeping the door open for a larger offseason move.
Meanwhile, Butler will miss the start of next season. The veteran is owed nearly $57 million next year, making his contract both one of the league’s largest and potentially a powerful salary tool in a future star trade as an expiring contract.
For now, the Warriors move forward without their preferred outcome — aware of the gap left by Butler, mindful of the missed Giannis opportunity, and committed to finding traction again in a suddenly uncertain season.