The Golden State Warriors are staring down a tough reality: Jimmy Butler is done for the season, and with that, any serious playoff aspirations may have gone out the window. Now, the conversation shifts from chasing a title to salvaging what’s left of the year-and that doesn’t necessarily mean winning games. It might mean rethinking priorities, especially if the losses start piling up after the trade deadline.
If the season starts to slip, it’s time to let the youth take the wheel.
The Butler injury doesn’t just hurt this season’s outlook-it forces the Warriors to take a hard look at the big picture. The current championship window, already narrow, is now hanging by a thread.
Next season is the final year Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Butler are all under contract. That makes it a crucial pivot point for the franchise.
And with head coach Steve Kerr also entering an uncertain future-his contract is up after this season-the organization has to make some tough decisions now to set the table for what could be one last run in 2026.
That starts with evaluating the young core.
If the Warriors fall out of contention, the focus should shift from squeezing out wins to giving extended minutes to their younger players. Guys like Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Quinten Post need real game reps-not just garbage time minutes.
The goal? Figure out who’s part of the future and who might be more valuable as a trade chip.
This approach requires patience-something that’s tough to come by in a franchise used to contending. But it might be the smartest play.
Holding off on trades at the deadline, even with Jonathan Kuminga’s situation growing more tenuous, could preserve the kind of draft capital and young talent that would be essential in a blockbuster offseason move. Whether it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo or another superstar who becomes available, the Warriors need to be ready with the right assets if they want to reload around Curry for one more shot at glory.
The pressure is mounting from all sides.
Stephen Curry, still playing at an elite level, has to be frustrated. He knows what it takes to win titles, and he also knows how important Butler was to making that happen this year.
Mike Dunleavy, the Warriors’ GM, is caught in the middle-tasked with building a contender while also thinking about what the post-Curry era might look like. And owner Joe Lacob has made it clear: winning matters.
But so does sustainability.
Then there’s Steve Kerr. With his contract expiring, he’s facing a crossroads.
Does he want to stick around for a potential rebuild? Or does he walk away from a team that might not be in position to contend unless a major move is made?
There are no easy answers here. But if the Warriors start slipping in the standings, they’ll need to lean into the uncertainty.
That means embracing the development of their young players and using the rest of this season to gather as much intel as possible. Who’s ready to contribute next year?
Who fits alongside Curry and Green? Who could be part of a trade package that brings in a top-tier star?
It’s not the season the Warriors envisioned-but it can still be a meaningful one. The key is clarity. And the only way to get it is by letting the young guys play.