The Golden State Warriors just took a brutal hit to their season-and possibly their future-with the news that Jimmy Butler is out for the year after tearing his ACL. That’s a gut punch for a franchise that went all-in to squeeze the most out of what’s left of Stephen Curry’s prime.
At 25-19, the Warriors were already hovering in the middle of the Western Conference pack. Now, without Butler, they’re left without the two-way force they were counting on to push them over the top.
This was a roster built to win now, not later. The Warriors committed to a veteran-heavy core-Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green-while hoping their younger pieces could grow into reliable contributors.
But with some of their recent high draft picks struggling to make a consistent impact, the team leaned heavily on players deep into their 30s. That’s a tough formula in a Western Conference loaded with athleticism and depth.
With the title window looking more like a crack than an opening, Golden State faces a tough question: Is it time to pivot toward the future? If so, finding the right trade partners becomes the next step-and one potential fit stands out: the San Antonio Spurs.
Could a Spurs-Warriors Deal Make Sense?
The Spurs are building around Victor Wembanyama, and while the foundation is promising, they’ve had their own growing pains. Young guards like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are still developing, and the team is clearly in need of perimeter shooting to complement Wembanyama’s inside-out presence. That’s where a player like Moses Moody comes into play.
Moody is quietly having the best shooting season of his young career, knocking down 39.2% of his threes on 5.6 attempts per game. That kind of efficiency and volume would instantly make him the Spurs’ top high-volume shooter.
And the best part? He fits their defensive identity.
He’s not just a catch-and-shoot guy-he competes on both ends.
Here’s a hypothetical deal that could work for both sides: the Spurs send Jeremy Sochan and a 2029 first-round pick to the Warriors in exchange for Moody. That 2029 pick could be expendable for San Antonio. By then, Wembanyama should be in his prime, and the Spurs might not miss a late first-rounder if it means adding a reliable floor spacer now.
From the Warriors’ side, it’s about retooling for what comes next. Sochan has drawn comparisons to a young Draymond Green-versatile, physical, and capable of guarding multiple positions. He’s fallen out of favor in San Antonio’s rotation under Mitch Johnson, but in Golden State, he could find new life in a system that values high-IQ defenders who can push the pace and make reads.
And then there’s the draft pick. Golden State still has its own future picks, but if they’re heading into a rebuild-or even just a soft reset-stockpiling assets is never a bad idea.
Especially when you’re staring down a post-Curry era with Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis as the most notable young pieces on the roster. That’s not exactly a magnet for big-name free agents.
What’s Next for Golden State?
The Warriors aren’t going to trade Stephen Curry. That much seems clear.
But with Butler out and the team stuck in the middle of the pack, they’ve got to start thinking longer term. That doesn’t mean blowing it all up immediately, but it does mean making smart, forward-looking moves-like turning a promising role player into a pair of assets that could help reshape the next era.
Moody’s value is peaking. Sochan brings energy and versatility.
And a future first-round pick gives the Warriors another chip to play with. It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s the kind of incremental move that starts to lay the groundwork for what’s next.
Golden State’s dynasty may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean they have to fade quietly. The right moves now could set them up to reload instead of rebuild-and a deal with San Antonio might be a step in that direction.