The Warriors’ 2026 offseason has gone flat fast. After missing out on LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State has been left with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg as its only addition and no free-agent signings at all.
That leaves Steph Curry staring at another difficult season while the franchise waits on Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to come back from the severe late-season injuries they suffered in 2025-26. With most of the top free agents already off the board, the path forward is pretty clear: if the Warriors want to fix this roster, they have to do it through trades.
One idea on the table is a blockbuster with the Dallas Mavericks that would turn Butler’s $56.8 million contract into four rotation pieces instead of one expensive holdover.
In the deal, Dallas would receive Jimmy Butler, a 2028 first-round pick from Golden State, a 2032 first-round pick from Golden State, and a 2032 second-round pick. The Warriors would get Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford.
For Golden State, the appeal is obvious. The team has already made it clear it doesn’t want to chase another short-term superstar at the cost of its future. This version of the trade gives the Warriors a much deeper, more balanced group without forcing them into another all-in gamble around Butler.
Thompson would be the familiar face in the package, returning to the Bay after averaging 11.7 points while shooting 38.3% from three last season in Dallas. Washington brings a versatile two-way presence after putting up 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds last season. Marshall adds another useful wing option, with averages of 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, while Gafford would bolster the center spot after posting 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks.
That kind of depth would matter for a Warriors roster built around aging, injury-prone stars like Curry, Draymond Green if he’s re-signed, and Kristaps Porzingis. The proposed starting five would be Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Washington, Draymond, and Porzingis, with Thompson, Marshall, and Gafford joining the mix alongside Al Horford and Gui Santos.
The cost is steep, especially with two first-round picks involved, but one of those selections is likely to come after Curry retires. The argument here is that the upgrade in actual playable talent outweighs the future risk.
Dallas has reasons to listen, too. The Mavericks are sitting on a 16-man roster without re-signing Dwight Powell, and they need to get compliant while cleaning up a frontcourt that has become crowded. Cooper Flagg is already in place as the team’s star forward, with Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama, and Morez Johnson Jr. also in the mix.
Washington and Gafford both come with long-term money - through 2030 and 2029, respectively - and moving them would help Dallas trim salary and simplify the roster. Aldama can slide into the center rotation with the injured Dereck Lively and re-signed Moussa Cisse, which makes Gafford more movable.
For the Mavericks, Butler would give them another veteran piece to pair with Kyrie Irving and mentor Flagg. If Irving and Flagg push the team above expectations, Butler’s late-season return could still fuel a playoff run. And because Butler is on an expiring contract, Dallas could move into the 2027 offseason with a clean cap sheet while new Team President Masai Ujiri and new GM Mike Schmitz keep reshaping the roster.
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The catch is that Thompson is still tied to Dallas on a deal that runs into next season, which makes any path out of the Mavericks complicated. Miamis interest is real enough to keep the conversation alive, but the Heat are waiting on a chain of events that has not broken their way yet, and until it does, the front office is left circling one target while other options sit just out of reach. [Read more 🡒]