Warriors Miss on Giannis, Pivot to Porzingis - and a Gritty Fight for Relevance
The Golden State Warriors took their biggest swing at the trade deadline, and they missed. Their all-in offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo - a package headlined by Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap - wasn’t enough to sway the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks, still holding out hope to either retain their superstar or drive up his price in the summer, decided to wait.
With the Giannis door closed - for now - the Warriors quickly shifted gears. They landed Kristaps Porzingis in a deal that sent Kuminga and Buddy Hield out the door. It’s not the blockbuster that would’ve changed the trajectory of the season, but it’s a move that signals Golden State isn’t ready to fold the tent just yet.
Still, the question looms: what now?
A Dynasty at a Crossroads
Golden State is clinging to the eighth seed in the West, barely above water in a conference that’s as unforgiving as ever. They're sliding, and the injury bug isn’t helping.
Stephen Curry remains out with patellofemoral pain syndrome - runner’s knee - and Kuminga, before being dealt, was still nursing a bone bruise. That’s left Steve Kerr with a rotation short on star power and long on role players trying to punch above their weight.
This isn’t the Warriors team that made five straight Finals appearances. This isn’t the Death Lineup. What we’re seeing now is a patchwork squad, full of specialists who might shine in the right system, but without Curry and without a second star, they’re being asked to do too much.
And for a fanbase that’s grown accustomed to banners, parades, and playoff magic, the current product feels like a sobering reality check.
Stuck in the Middle
Golden State finds itself in basketball’s version of no man’s land - not good enough to contend, not bad enough to bottom out. It’s the place every franchise dreads: basketball purgatory.
The Warriors aren’t tanking, and they’re not truly competing either. That’s where the hard questions start to surface.
Do you shut down Curry to protect his long-term health? It’s a tough sell - to the fans, to the locker room, and probably to Curry himself.
He’s not wired to sit out if there’s still a fight to be had. But with injuries piling up and the postseason ceiling shrinking, it’s a conversation the front office has to have.
Then there’s Steve Kerr. The head coach who helped define this dynasty isn’t under contract beyond this season.
Both he and Curry have said they want to ride this thing out together, but with the franchise staring down a potential rebuild, is Kerr the guy to lead it? And does he even want to?
Publicly, Kerr has deferred those questions to the offseason. But behind the scenes, the signs are starting to show.
Reports suggest his staff is already preparing for a possible exit. And when team owner Joe Lacob starts emailing fans to question Kerr’s coaching decisions?
That’s not nothing. The foundation might be shaking.
What’s Left to Play For?
Without Giannis, the Warriors’ best-case scenario might be a hard-fought first-round series. But there’s a silver lining: most of the teams chasing them in the standings didn’t make big moves either.
The Clippers traded away James Harden and Ivica Zubac for an injured Darius Garland and future picks. The Mavericks and Grizzlies offloaded their big men.
Portland’s still trying, but Utah and the rest of the pack are too far behind to be a real threat.
So there’s a path, however narrow, to the postseason. And if their gritty 101-97 win over the Suns - just hours after the trade deadline chaos - is any indication, this team isn’t ready to go quietly.
Kristaps Porzingis brings some intrigue. His ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim gives Golden State a new dimension.
And the young guys? They’re showing real growth.
Gui Santos, Pat Spencer, and Moses Moody were instrumental in the 16-2 run that sealed that win over Phoenix. They played with energy, urgency, and belief - the kind of effort that can still win you games in the NBA, even when the odds are stacked.
And then there’s Curry. Even in street clothes, he’s the emotional heartbeat of this team.
The joy he showed after that Suns win - celebrating like it was Game 7 - tells you everything you need to know. He’s still invested.
He still believes.
Fighting to the Finish
This might not be a championship season. It might not even be a deep playoff run.
But there’s something to be said for how a team handles the fall. The Warriors could’ve folded after missing on Giannis.
They could’ve sulked through the final stretch. Instead, they dug in.
There’s honor in that. There’s pride in playing hard, even when the glory days feel distant. And if this is the twilight of the dynasty, it looks like Golden State plans to go down swinging.
Not with a whimper - but with a fight.