Just when the Warriors were starting to find their stride, the momentum came to a screeching halt. Golden State had rattled off four straight wins and six of their last seven, finally looking like the team that could make some noise out West. Then came the gut punch: Jimmy Butler went down in the third quarter against the Miami Heat, clutching his right knee in visible pain.
The Warriors went on to cruise past Miami, 135-112, but the scoreboard didn’t matter much after the game. Butler had suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. It's a brutal blow for a team that was just beginning to click-and it reshapes the entire outlook for Golden State's playoff hopes.
Butler had been a do-it-all presence for the Warriors this year, ranking top-three on the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. His averages-20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists-don’t just tell the story of a solid contributor; they paint the picture of a foundational piece. Losing him means more than just losing stats-it means losing a tone-setter, a closer, and a leader on both ends of the floor.
Life Without Butler: Who Steps Up?
With Butler sidelined, Golden State faces a critical decision. Who fills the void in the starting five? Brandin Podziemski and Will Richard are the names being floated, but the more intriguing option is Jonathan Kuminga.
On paper, Kuminga makes a lot of sense. He’s got the athleticism, the scoring punch, and the defensive upside to slot into Butler’s role.
The problem? He hasn’t played since December-not because of injury, but due to a string of DNPs tied to coaching decisions.
That led to Kuminga requesting a trade, frustrated by his inconsistent role despite his clear talent.
The Kuminga saga has been a roller coaster. Once the Warriors’ most prized young prospect, he’s been in and out of the rotation more times than anyone can count.
He’s started games, been a spark off the bench, then found himself on the outside looking in. Even after signing a team-friendly two-year deal in the offseason, his minutes never stabilized.
So now the Warriors are left with a complicated question: Is it time to finally move on from Kuminga?
A Trade That Makes Sense for Both Sides
Butler’s injury doesn’t just create a hole in the rotation-it potentially gives Golden State the green light to honor Kuminga’s trade request. Not as a desperation move, but as a calculated pivot. Kuminga still holds significant value, and if the Warriors want to stay competitive in the short term, he could be their best trade chip.
Enter the Chicago Bulls.
Chicago has emerged as a logical trade partner, especially given their current roster construction. While their record is underwhelming, they’re loaded with veterans-many of whom are on expiring deals.
That’s exactly the kind of situation Golden State could exploit. With Steph Curry and Draymond Green at 37 and 35, respectively, the Warriors aren’t looking to build for the future-they’re trying to win right now.
One name that’s been linked to Golden State for a while is Nikola Vucevic. At 35, he’s not a long-term solution, but he could give the Warriors a reliable big who can stretch the floor and facilitate from the high post. That said, with Butler gone, the Warriors may be more interested in adding a perimeter player who can create his own shot and handle secondary playmaking duties.
That’s where Coby White comes in.
The Coby White Factor
White has been on Golden State’s radar, and for good reason. He’s a 25-year-old guard with scoring chops and playmaking ability-two things the Warriors will sorely miss without Butler.
The challenge is that the Bulls have also shown interest in keeping him long-term. They’ve considered a contract extension, and with White set to hit free agency soon, it’s not clear whether they’re willing to part ways.
But there’s a case to be made that White isn’t the perfect fit in Chicago anymore. The Bulls already extended Josh Giddey, and the Giddey-White backcourt hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire. Their net rating together is negative, and with Giddey locked in, White could be the odd man out.
That opens the door for Golden State to make a move.
What a Deal Could Look Like
A straight-up swap-Kuminga for White-won’t work financially, but the gap isn’t huge. Chicago would need to add about $1 million in salary to make the numbers work.
The Warriors, on their end, could include a future first-round pick to sweeten the pot. That might be enough to push the deal over the finish line.
From Golden State’s perspective, this is about salvaging a season that suddenly feels like it’s teetering. White gives them a shot creator and ball-handler who can take pressure off Curry. Kuminga, meanwhile, gets a fresh start in Chicago-a team that could offer more consistent minutes and a clearer development path.
A Turning Point for the Warriors
Losing Butler is a major blow, no question. But it also forces the Warriors to confront some tough truths about their roster and direction.
They’ve been straddling the line between competing and developing for years. Butler’s injury might finally push them to commit to one path.
If they decide to go all-in on the present, flipping Kuminga for win-now help makes sense. And if that help comes in the form of Coby White or Nikola Vucevic, the Warriors could stay afloat in the playoff picture-even without Butler.
It’s not the route they planned to take. But in a season that just took a sharp left turn, it might be the best one available.