The Golden State Warriors aren’t legitimate playoff contenders in early-March, and there’s no guarantee the seven-time NBA champions will even reach the postseason this year.
Stephen Curry is still dealing with a nagging knee injury that has sidelined him since late January, and following a rough six-game stretch (1-5), the Warriors are 32-33 and hold the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference (Play-In territory).
Simply put, the remainder of the 2025-26 season doesn’t offer much hope for the Dubs, which should prompt them to begin pondering offseason moves that could help them begin the 2026-27 campaign on a positive note.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale is under the impression that the 29-year-old seven-time All-Star would be a viable summer trade target for Golden State.
“Stephen Curry is almost 40, has missed games, blah, blah, blahty blah,” Favale wrote Wednesday. “So long as he's on this roster and operating, when healthy, at an All-NBA level, the Golden State Warriors are obligated to pursue all-in moves until the wheels fall off. At the very least, they must pretend that's what they're doing.”
“Going on 30 in September, Donovan Mitchell is young enough (or close to it) for the Warriors to peddle him as their ticket to immediate contention and bridge into the future. They should cross their fingers for the Cleveland Cavaliers flame out of the playoffs, again, and open themselves up to an offseason roster-razing.”
Mitchell’s stellar offensive play this season has been integral to the Cavaliers’ ability to rebound from their sluggish 17-16 start. The Louisville product will never shy away from his responsibilities as Cleveland’s No. 1 scoring option, enabling him to take control of games late and put the Cavaliers on his back when necessary.
The explosive and quick-twitch 6-foot-2 superstar is averaging 28.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds on a 40-26 Cavaliers squad, shooting 48.0% from the field and 36.6% from beyond the arc.
Adding James Harden to the fold before the Feb. 5 trade deadline has done wonders for the Cavaliers thus far, providing them with a high-level shot creator/playmaker who fits better alongside Mitchell than Darius Garland did.
If a potential early postseason exit opens the door for an offseason trade involving Mitchell, the Warriors should be prepared to monitor it closely. Winning the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes will be the franchise’s primary focus this summer.
Still, there’s no denying that Mitchell would be among the best backup trade options for the Warriors in the upcoming months.
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