Steph Curry stood near the scorer’s table, watching Jimmy Butler writhe in the paint, and looked all of his 38 years. The noise inside Chase Center wasn’t a gasp; it was the sound of a plan dying. On January 19, the Warriors’ calculated gamble on a veteran core collapsed along with Butler’s left knee. In that moment, the reality of a lost season settled over the Bay. Now, the timeline has shifted violently. General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. faces a choice that will define the next decade of this organization. He has 72 hours to fix a problem that took five months to create. With the February 5 trade deadline looming, the phone lines in San Francisco are no longer just open. They are melting down.
The silent clock
The arithmetic of the 2025 26 season has turned cruel. Despite the pressure to contend, the Warriors are stranded in basketball purgatory, three games back of the Pacific Division lead. They are barely holding off a surging Houston squad. Steph Curry needs help. He needs buckets and rim protection, specifically, the kind that vanished the second Butler went down. Consequently, the front office has put every asset not named Curry on the table. Jonathan Kuminga, whose January 15 trade demand set the tone for this chaotic winter, is the primary chip. Even Draymond Green, the franchise icon turned salary matching necessity, might finally be moved.
The current market is volatile. Just days ago, the Cavaliers snatched 3 and D wing Keon Ellis, a primary Warriors target. That move left Golden State with fewer options and higher desperation. Whispers of “Giannis or Bust” are now deafening. However, relying solely on a pipe dream is how championship windows close without a sound. Dunleavy must navigate a minefield of high asking prices to find a partner willing to dance.
The final swings
To find the right target, Dunleavy must balance “all in” urgency with the harsh constraints of the salary cap. The ideal acquisition must offer immediate high level impact and fit into Steve Kerr’s motion offense. It must also be attainable using a package centered on Kuminga and future picks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Rumors of a trade demand have swirled ever since Milwaukee stuttered out of the gate in 2025. But the “Giannis Sweepstakes” truly began when the Bucks’ front office hesitated to extend his contract last summer. According to league sources, Milwaukee is finally listening to offers. Per Basketball Reference, Antetokounmpo is posting MVP numbers, yet the Bucks’ net rating drops by 8.4 points when he sits. This signals a roster unable to support him. Giannis represents the white whale. Acquiring him would not just save the season. It would bookend the Curry era with the most dominant physical force since Shaq. Just beyond the arc, Curry needs a partner who collapses defenses. This move justifies the total liquidation of the Warriors’ future draft capital.
Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
If the Giannis dream dies, Jackson is the perfect pivot. He fits the “light years” timeline while contributing immediately. Jackson Jr. blocked seven shots in a December game against the Thunder, a reminder of his Defensive Player of the Year pedigree. Sports Illustrated analysis from February 1 notes he is shooting 35.5% from deep while averaging 1.5 blocks. This “unicorn” skillset solves Golden State’s spacing and rim protection issues simultaneously. He offers a defensive anchor that allows Draymond Green to roam or replaces him entirely. Ultimately, Jackson bridges the gap between the current title window and the future.
Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
Markkanen dropped 38 points on the Warriors in early January, punishing their small ball lineups with a barrage of contested threes. He is the offensive release valve Curry has lacked since Klay Thompson’s departure. The Athletic reported on January 31 that Utah is finally entertaining offers involving Kuminga. They are eyeing a package that centers on the young wing and multiple first round picks. A seven footer who moves like a wing, Markkanen would reopen the floor for Curry’s drives. He recreates the lethal spacing of the 2017 Warriors. Across the court, defenses would have to choose between leaving Markkanen open or letting Curry operate one on one.
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Reports surfaced last week of Booker’s frustration with Phoenix’s repetitive early playoff exits. This sparked speculation of a massive roster shakeup. Booker is averaging 26.5 points and 6.8 assists. He operates as a primary creator who could instantly relieve Curry of the ball handling burden for 20 minutes a night. Pairing Curry with the guard who idolized him is poetic. But the cost is lethal. A deal involving Podziemski and picks through 2032 would mortgage the franchise’s entire post Curry existence. Yet still, the upside is a backcourt with unguardable offensive firepower.
Naji Marshall (Dallas Mavericks)
Marshall shut down Anthony Edwards in a clutch possession during the Mavs’ Christmas Day win. He showcased the gritty wing defense the Warriors lost with Butler. He is not a star, but he is a “16 game player.” Like Andre Iguodala or Gary Payton II before him, Marshall is the type of rugged connective piece that Steve Kerr trusts in the fourth quarter. Data from Second Spectrum shows Marshall is holding opponents to 41% shooting. He is on a value contract ($9.4 million). Consequently, he represents a reachable target without sacrificing a blue chip asset like Kuminga.
Saddiq Bey (New Orleans Pelicans)
Bey hit five threes in a single quarter against the Kings in November. This display of streakiness makes him a dangerous wildcard. The Warriors have a history of rehabilitating shooters. Bey fits the mold of Otto Porter Jr., a distressed asset who could revitalize his career by simply standing in the corner. He hits the open shots Curry creates. Shooting 34.8% from three on high volume while earning just $6.4 million, Bey represents a low risk, high reward flier. Before long, he could become a staple in Kerr’s rotation. He adds necessary depth for a deep playoff run.
Kyle Kuzma (Washington Wizards)
Kuzma looked like the best player on the floor during a 30 point explosion at Chase Center last season. Often mocked for his off court fashion, Kuzma has quietly become a winning player. His size (6’9″) and versatility would give Kerr a legitimate forward who can create his own shot when the offense stalls. League insiders suggest a potential framework involving Kuminga and Podziemski for Kuzma and picks is discussed. He is averaging 22 points per game. On the other hand, his defensive consistency remains a question mark for a team that prides itself on stops.
Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)
Kessler altered three consecutive drives by Curry in their last meeting. He forced kick outs that resulted in turnovers. The “Bogut Role” remains unfilled in Golden State. Kessler is not a shooter or a playmaker. But he is a massive body who sets bone crushing screens and erases mistakes at the rim. These are two staples of championship Warriors basketball. Ranking in the top five in blocks per game and rim deterrence percentage, Kessler offers elite vertical spacing. He brings the paint protection the Warriors haven’t had since their 2022 title run.
Dorian Finney Smith (Brooklyn Nets)
Finney Smith posted a quintessential “glue guy” performance against the Celtics recently. He finished with 0 points but was +15 in the box score due to defensive rotations. He is the modern Shane Battier. In a playoff series against the dynamic wings of the West (Edwards, Gilgeous Alexander), having a defender like Finney Smith is vital. It is often the difference between a second round exit and a Conference Finals run. With a salary in the mid tier range, he matches the trade exception created by previous moves. This allows the Warriors to acquire him without sending out major salary.
Robert Williams III (Portland Trail Blazers)
Williams had a healthy stretch in January where “Time Lord” looked like his 2022 self. He was catching lobs and swatting shots into the stands. A gamble on health defines this potential move. If he stays on the floor, Williams offers a defensive ceiling higher than any center on the current roster. He channels the chaotic energy that once made the Warriors’ defense feared. According to ESPN insiders, Portland is selling off veterans. Williams’ injury history has lowered his price. A package of second round picks might suffice to bring him to the Bay.
The twilight mandate
The upcoming days will determine if the Warriors are serious about honoring the final chapter of their greatest player. There is no middle ground left. A fork in the road has appeared. Does the front office believe Steph Curry can still be the best player in a championship series? If the answer is yes, then no price is too high. Not Kuminga, not Podziemski, not the 2030 pick. Conversely, if they hesitate, they risk something far worse than a bad trade. They risk the lingering image of a legend checking out of a meaningless game in April. He will shake his head as the clock runs out on a dynasty that forgot how to be bold. Finally, it is time for Mike Dunleavy to pick a lane.
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FAQs
When is the NBA trade deadline for the Warriors? The deadline is February 5, and the story frames it as a 72 hour sprint for Golden State to choose a direction.
Why does this feel like Steph Curry’s last real window? The piece treats this season as the tipping point, and it warns that hesitation turns April into empty games.
What do the Warriors need most after Butler went down? They need buckets and rim protection, and the article says both vanished the moment Butler got hurt.
Is Jonathan Kuminga the main trade chip? Yes. The story calls Kuminga the primary chip and says every asset not named Curry is on the table.
What is the biggest risk if the Warriors go all in? You can empty the cupboard, and the article warns that picks and young players could vanish, leaving a grim post Curry
