The Warriors’ 2026 offseason has gone flat fast. After missing out on LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State has been left with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg as its only addition and no free-agent signings at all.
That leaves Steph Curry staring at another difficult season while the franchise waits on Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to come back from the severe late-season injuries they suffered in 2025-26. With most of the top free agents already off the board, the path forward is pretty clear: if the Warriors want to fix this roster, they have to do it through trades.
One idea on the table is a blockbuster with the Dallas Mavericks that would turn Butler’s $56.8 million contract into four rotation pieces instead of one expensive holdover.
In the deal, Dallas would receive Jimmy Butler, a 2028 first-round pick from Golden State, a 2032 first-round pick from Golden State, and a 2032 second-round pick. The Warriors would get Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford.
For Golden State, the appeal is obvious. The team has already made it clear it doesn’t want to chase another short-term superstar at the cost of its future. This version of the trade gives the Warriors a much deeper, more balanced group without forcing them into another all-in gamble around Butler.
Thompson would be the familiar face in the package, returning to the Bay after averaging 11.7 points while shooting 38.3% from three last season in Dallas. Washington brings a versatile two-way presence after putting up 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds last season. Marshall adds another useful wing option, with averages of 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, while Gafford would bolster the center spot after posting 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks.
That kind of depth would matter for a Warriors roster built around aging, injury-prone stars like Curry, Draymond Green if he’s re-signed, and Kristaps Porzingis. The proposed starting five would be Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Washington, Draymond, and Porzingis, with Thompson, Marshall, and Gafford joining the mix alongside Al Horford and Gui Santos.
The cost is steep, especially with two first-round picks involved, but one of those selections is likely to come after Curry retires. The argument here is that the upgrade in actual playable talent outweighs the future risk.
Dallas has reasons to listen, too. The Mavericks are sitting on a 16-man roster without re-signing Dwight Powell, and they need to get compliant while cleaning up a frontcourt that has become crowded. Cooper Flagg is already in place as the team’s star forward, with Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama, and Morez Johnson Jr. also in the mix.
Washington and Gafford both come with long-term money - through 2030 and 2029, respectively - and moving them would help Dallas trim salary and simplify the roster. Aldama can slide into the center rotation with the injured Dereck Lively and re-signed Moussa Cisse, which makes Gafford more movable.
For the Mavericks, Butler would give them another veteran piece to pair with Kyrie Irving and mentor Flagg. If Irving and Flagg push the team above expectations, Butler’s late-season return could still fuel a playoff run. And because Butler is on an expiring contract, Dallas could move into the 2027 offseason with a clean cap sheet while new Team President Masai Ujiri and new GM Mike Schmitz keep reshaping the roster.
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Dereck Lively II was one of the most important reasons Dallas made its recent run to the NBA Finals, giving the Mavericks a defensive backbone in the middle and a clean, efficient scoring option when the pressure rose. His playoff numbers backed up the eye test, with strong defensive metrics and a level of efficiency that fit perfectly alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Now the Mavericks are reportedly discussing a contract extension with the young center, and the timing makes the decision feel especially delicate. Livelys value is clear when hes on the floor, but his recent injury history has left Dallas weighing how much certainty it can attach to a player whose future impact still depends on how his recovery unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Fans Have One Big Concern About Zaccharie Risacher's Fit
Zaccharie Risachers arrival gives Dallas another young wing to think about as the Mavericks keep leaning into a youth movement around Cooper Flagg. The former No. 1 pick brings the kind of long, versatile profile that usually plays well next to a steady floor general, and the idea is straightforward enough: get him the ball in his spots, let him grow into a defined role, and see how his game scales with a more balanced roster.
The concern is whether this version of Dallas can give him that kind of runway right away. The Mavericks recent offensive profile has not exactly been tailored to a playmaking wing, but the picture could change quickly with Kyrie Irvings return, Flaggs presence, and the broader roster turnover already underway. Risacher still has two full years left on his rookie contract, which gives the Mavericks time, but it also leaves open the bigger question of whether the environment around him will be ready before the clock starts to matter. [Read more 🡒]
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Kyrie Irvings path back has become one of the most important storylines around the Mavericks as they move through a new era under a reshaped front office and coaching staff. After missing the entire 2025-26 season, Irving is back in the conversation not just as a scorer, but as a veteran presence the team expects to lean on while building around young talent like Cooper Flagg.
The encouraging part for Dallas is that Irving has not been treated like a distant rehab project. He has been involved in offseason planning, and the organizations tone around him has shifted from uncertainty to optimism. What happens next is still the bigger question, but the Mavericks clearly view his return as a key piece of how this roster is supposed to look, and how quickly the new setup can start to feel real. [Read more 🡒]