The Golden State Warriors are approaching a crossroads - and tonight’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers might be more than just another regular-season game. With Jimmy Butler III and Jonathan Kuminga sidelined due to injuries, and the NBA trade deadline looming just two days away, this could be the final time we see this version of the Warriors on the floor. Draymond Green will suit up for his 1,092nd game in a Warriors jersey - and depending on how things shake out, it could also be his last.
This is the kind of moment that defines eras. Thursday’s trade deadline casts a long shadow over tonight’s contest, and not just because of the names being floated in rumors. The Warriors are staring down the possibility of a franchise-altering deal - one that could bring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Bay.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just another trade deadline flirtation. The Warriors are all-in on Giannis.
That’s the target. Not a collection of role players or a stopgap wing.
If this thing comes together, it’s because Golden State swung for the fences and connected on one of the boldest moves in league history.
For years, the idea of Giannis in a Warriors uniform felt like fantasy. Even when cracks began to show in his relationship with the Bucks, the path to San Francisco seemed blocked - too many hurdles, not enough leverage.
The only realistic route was a full-on trade request from Giannis himself, paired with Milwaukee’s willingness to honor it. But now, the landscape has shifted.
The Bucks are reportedly more interested in draft capital than young, established talent - a subtle but significant change that tilts the board in Golden State’s favor. Meanwhile, other big-market suitors like the Knicks and Heat are limited in what they can offer until the summer. That opens the door, and the Warriors are stepping through it.
Of course, nothing’s done yet. Minnesota has emerged as a serious contender, and the entire situation is fluid. But the fact that the Warriors are even in the conversation - legitimately, not just in theory - speaks volumes about how aggressive they’re being behind the scenes.
If this deal happens, it won’t be cheap. The starting point is four first-round picks and a pick swap.
Then comes the salary-matching, which is where things get tricky. To make the math work, Golden State has two likely options: include Butler in the deal, or send out the duo of Green and Kuminga.
Early indications pointed to Butler being the key outgoing piece. But momentum has started to shift toward the Green-Kuminga package.
There’s been chatter - and not just from the rumor mill - that the Warriors are open to moving Green, even as Steve Kerr has acknowledged how uncomfortable that possibility is. According to reporting, the team has already assured Butler they’re standing by him as he begins what’s expected to be a year-long rehab process.
That doesn’t mean Butler is untouchable. But it does suggest the Warriors are preparing for a future that includes him - and maybe one that doesn’t include Draymond Green.
This is where it gets emotional. Green is more than just a player for Golden State.
He’s part of the soul of this franchise. He’s the guy who’s been there through every title run, every playoff battle, every defining moment of the dynasty.
Trading him would be seismic - not just on the court, but in the locker room, in the fanbase, and for Steph Curry, who’s already had to adjust to life without Klay Thompson.
And then there’s Kuminga, one of the most promising young talents on the roster. He’s shown flashes of becoming a star in his own right. Losing him would hurt, especially if the Warriors are trying to build a bridge between the Curry era and whatever comes next.
But acquiring Giannis means pushing all the chips in. It means accepting that the future might look a little bleaker in exchange for one more shot at glory while Steph is still playing at an elite level.
That’s the cost of chasing greatness. That’s the price of trying to hang another banner before the dynasty fades into memory.
Whether it’s Green, Butler, Kuminga, or a combination of all three, someone important is likely on the move if this deal goes down. And while the Warriors could make smaller tweaks around the edges, everything points to one big swing.
Tonight’s game might not just be about beating the Sixers. It might be a goodbye - to a player, to a core, to an era. And if the next time we see the Warriors, Giannis Antetokounmpo is wearing blue and gold, it’ll mark the beginning of something entirely new.
The clock is ticking. And the Warriors are playing for keeps.