The Golden State Warriors are in a tough spot - and they know it. Jimmy Butler’s season-ending knee injury has thrown a wrench into any plans the team had for a second-half surge, but it hasn’t completely shut the door on bold possibilities. According to league insider Jake Fischer, Golden State’s front office is keeping the lines open - but only for the kind of deal that would shake up the entire NBA landscape.
Per Fischer, the Warriors would consider moving Butler in a blockbuster deal, but only for two names: Giannis Antetokounmpo or LeBron James. That’s it. That’s the list.
Let’s be clear - the odds of such a trade happening before the February 5 deadline are slim. Butler’s injury alone makes any transaction involving him complicated. But the Warriors are leaving the door cracked, just in case one of those generational talents decides they want to wear blue and gold.
Why Giannis or LeBron?
Golden State’s reported interest in Giannis and LeBron isn’t new. The franchise has long admired both players, even before Butler joined the roster last February. But now, with Butler sidelined, the Warriors’ margin for error has shrunk - and their need for a transformative move has grown.
Giannis, a two-time MVP and one of the league’s most dominant two-way forces, is the kind of player who could instantly vault the Warriors back into serious title contention. And while the Milwaukee Bucks have made it clear they’re buyers at the deadline, their recent slide has only fueled speculation about Antetokounmpo’s long-term future.
The Bucks have dropped four of their last five games, including a 20-point drubbing at the hands of the Thunder. They’re now sitting 11th in the East - a far cry from where a team led by Giannis is expected to be. Milwaukee’s front office is under pressure to make a move, not just to salvage this season, but to show Giannis they’re still serious about building a winner around him.
That uncertainty opens the door - even if just slightly - for teams like Golden State to stay alert. If Giannis were to suddenly become available, the Warriors would be ready to pounce, armed with draft capital and a willingness to part with Butler in the right deal.
The LeBron Angle
A LeBron-for-Butler swap would be a different kind of play. It wouldn’t require the same level of draft compensation as a Giannis deal, but it also wouldn’t carry the same long-term upside. Still, pairing LeBron James with Stephen Curry would be an all-time storyline - two of the defining players of the past two decades, finally sharing the court as teammates.
It’s the kind of move that would light up the league and turn every Warriors game into appointment viewing. But there are plenty of hurdles.
For starters, the Lakers are currently sitting fifth in the West and very much in the playoff hunt. Trading away LeBron for an injured Butler doesn’t make much sense for L.A. on paper, unless a third team gets involved to make the pieces fit.
That’s why, if anything were to happen on the LeBron front, it would likely require a more complex, multi-team deal - and a clear desire from James himself to make a move to Golden State.
What’s Next for the Warriors?
The more realistic outcome is that both Giannis and LeBron stay put through the deadline, and any major movement involving either star gets pushed to the offseason. But that doesn’t mean the Warriors are standing pat. With Butler out, they’re evaluating every option to keep their season alive - and if a superstar so much as hints at wanting to join Steph and company, Golden State will be ready to talk.
For now, it’s a waiting game. The Warriors are keeping their powder dry, hoping for a miracle - or at least a conversation that could lead to one.
Because if there’s even a sliver of a chance to land a player like Giannis or LeBron, you don’t just pick up the phone. You clear the runway.