The Golden State Warriors lost Jimmy Butler for the season, and their title window is officially closed. A deal with the San Antonio Spurs should be on the table.
The Golden State Warriors might not come out and say it, but their season is over. They were 25-19 on the season, good for middling eighth place, and then Jimmy Butler tore his ACL, ending his season.
In order to maximize Stephen Curry and the end of his prime, the Warriors went all-in on their core of Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green. Of course, it doesn't help that some of their highest draft picks didn't pan out, so they were relying on a cast of characters all well past their 35th birthdays.
With not much to play for and a rather bleak future, the Warriors need to turn to trade partners. The San Antonio Spurs should be a clear suitor.
Spurs and Warriors Link Up in Mock Trade#
As Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper struggle from deep and Harrison Barnes declines, it's clear that the Spurs need shooting. It's possible they could break the bank for the greatest shooter ever, although even with the title window closed, the Warriors probably won't deal Curry.
Jonathan Kuminga has long been on the trade block, but he's hardly a sharpshooter. The Spurs have been linked to the likes of Trey Murphy III and Lauri Markkanen, although the Warriors should be able to offer a more affordable alternative.
The Spurs could send Jeremy Sochan and a 2029 first-round pick to the Warriors in exchange for Moses Moody. The 2029 selection would be the Spurs' own, and at that point, Victor Wermbanyama should long be in his prime, making the pick easily expendable.
This season, Moody is shooting a career-best 39.2% from deep on 5.6 attempts. Moody would be the best high-volume (over five attempts) shooter on the Spurs' roster, while not compromising their defensive identity.
Would it be enough for the Warriors? They get their next Draymond Green in Sochan, who has fallen out of Mitch Johnson's rotation, and pick up a draft pick that could be used during the long rebuild they are staring down.
A post-Curry future has to be in the works for Golden State, and attracting free agents to a team featuring Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis won't be an easy sell. The Warriors will likely have to rebuild through the draft, and while they have plenty of their own picks, any ammunition could help out.
Is Moody a long-term piece for Golden State? Probably not, and the Spurs have already built a roster perfect for him to fit into, either as a starter replacing Barnes, or as a shooter off the bench.