The Golden State Warriors are staring down a pivotal moment in their season-and, quite possibly, in the final chapter of their dynasty.
After Jimmy Butler went down with a season-ending knee injury on Monday, the Warriors’ front office is facing a critical fork in the road. With the trade deadline fast approaching on February 5, Golden State has to decide: push all the chips in now or let the clock run out on a core that’s delivered four championships-and might not get another shot.
Before Butler’s injury, the Warriors had been quietly building momentum. They’d gone 12-5 over their last 17 games, showing flashes of the kind of form that makes you believe they still have one more deep playoff run in them. With Stephen Curry leading the charge, Draymond Green back in the mix, and Butler adding his signature toughness on both ends of the floor, Golden State was starting to look dangerous again.
But now, with Butler sidelined, everything changes.
The urgency is real. Curry, Green, and Butler are all on contracts that expire after next season.
Head coach Steve Kerr’s deal is up at the end of this year. This isn’t just about salvaging a season-it’s about maximizing what could be the final window of a championship era.
Enter the trade machine.
A proposed deal floating around the league suggests the Warriors could swing big-really big. The idea? Package Butler’s contract to bring in two future Hall of Famers: Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis.
Yes, that Klay Thompson.
The hypothetical deal would reunite Curry and Thompson for one last ride, while adding Davis as a defensive anchor in the frontcourt. Davis, currently with the Dallas Mavericks in this scenario, would bring rim protection, rebounding, and the kind of interior presence the Warriors haven’t had since the days of Andrew Bogut-only with a whole lot more offensive firepower.
The emotional pull of bringing Klay back speaks for itself. He, Curry, and Green built a dynasty together.
They’ve been through everything-titles, injuries, redemption tours. Giving them one more shot at glory wouldn’t just tug at the heartstrings; it could make basketball sense, too.
And Davis? He’s still under contract for one more year, which gives the Warriors a bit of flexibility while also signaling a win-now move. His ability to switch defensively, protect the rim, and stretch the floor offensively could be the missing piece for a team that thrives when its bigs can facilitate and defend.
Of course, pulling off a move like this in the Western Conference gauntlet is no small feat. The West is stacked.
But if any trio knows how to navigate that terrain, it’s Curry, Green, and Thompson. Add Davis to the mix, and you’ve got a compelling blend of experience, talent, and championship pedigree.
The clock is ticking. The Warriors have decisions to make-and not much time to make them.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this franchise over the past decade, it’s this: they don’t shy away from big moments. They lean into them.
And this? This is about as big as it gets.