The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a familiar but uncomfortable position: hovering around .500, sitting at 27-23, and clinging to the eighth seed in the Western Conference. With Jimmy Butler now ruled out for the season, the front office is staring down two very different paths-ride it out with the current roster and hope for internal growth, or make a bold move to stay relevant in a loaded West.
One option that’s reportedly on the table? Swinging a major deal for Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis.
Here’s what the proposed trade would look like:
Warriors receive: F/C Anthony Davis
Mavericks receive: G/F Jimmy Butler, Golden State’s 2026 first-round pick
At first glance, this might raise some eyebrows. Davis, like Butler, has a well-documented history of injuries, and adding another aging star to a roster already full of mileage doesn’t scream long-term sustainability. But this isn’t about building for five years from now-this is about maximizing what’s left of the Steph Curry era.
With Butler sidelined, his contract essentially becomes a sunk cost for this season. Davis, on the other hand, is still playing-and when he’s on the floor, he remains one of the league’s most impactful two-way players.
He’s averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks in just over 31 minutes per game. Yes, he’s only logged 20 games so far this season, but his presence when healthy is undeniable.
For Golden State, the appeal is clear. Pairing Davis with Draymond Green gives the Warriors a defensive frontcourt that could suffocate teams in the paint and switch across multiple positions.
Offensively, Davis’ ability to screen, roll, and finish around the rim would open up new wrinkles in the Warriors’ motion-heavy system, especially with Curry orchestrating from the perimeter. Imagine Curry working out of dribble handoffs with Davis as the screener, while Green facilitates from the top of the key-that’s a tough trio to guard.
From Dallas’ perspective, this deal could be about cutting bait on Davis’ availability concerns and pivoting toward longer-term flexibility. Taking on Butler’s contract isn’t ideal, especially with him out for the season, but the inclusion of a first-round pick softens the blow. And if the Mavericks feel like Davis’ best days are behind him, this is a way to extract value while they still can.
Of course, this kind of trade doesn’t come without risk. Davis has missed significant time in recent years, and there’s no guarantee he stays healthy through the postseason. But if the Warriors are serious about contending in what could be the twilight of their championship window, this is the kind of swing that might be necessary.
It’s not just about getting better-it’s about staying in the fight. And in a Western Conference that’s as deep and unforgiving as ever, standing still might be the riskiest move of all.