Can the Warriors salvage their season after the Jimmy Butler injury?
The Golden State Warriors are facing their toughest test of the season after losing star forward Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL, and Monday night's 108-83 blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves showed just how thin this roster has become.
Butler went down during a third-quarter collision against the Miami Heat on January 19, and an MRI confirmed the worst-case scenario the following day.
The six-time All-Star, who had been averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season, will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.
He was playing some of the best basketball of his career when the injury occurred, having helped the Warriors win 12 of their previous 16 games before going down.
Golden State fell to 26-22 on the season after the lopsided loss in Minneapolis, where they were without both Stephen Curry (knee) and Draymond Green (back) in addition to Butler.
The Timberwolves (28-19) dominated from start to finish as Rudy Gobert posted 15 points and 17 rebounds, and the Warriors shot a season-low 23.1% from three-point range.
Curry's Workload Becomes a Concern
Stephen Curry has continued to be exceptional this season, averaging 27.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game while recently moving past Kevin Garnett into 21st place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
However, his absence Monday night due to knee soreness highlighted just how dependent this team has become on his availability.
Draymond Green has been contributing 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, and his defensive leadership will be critical as the team adjusts to life without Butler.
Green also missed Monday's loss with a back injury, leaving the Warriors without all three of their core players.
The Warriors have been working to reduce their turnover numbers in recent weeks, and Green has been a big part of that improvement.
Trade Deadline Decisions Loom
With Butler sidelined for the rest of the year, the Warriors face difficult decisions ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
General manager Mike Dunleavy has said the team does not envision trading Butler despite the injury, expecting the veteran to provide a boost next season.
The bigger question surrounds Jonathan Kuminga, who demanded a trade on January 15 after falling out of Steve Kerr's rotation.
Kuminga could be moved for wing depth, with reports linking the team to Andrew Wiggins, Miles Bridges and Michael Porter Jr.
The Warriors could also move Buddy Hield, who has struggled this season, though Golden State is hard-capped at the second apron and cannot take back significantly more salary than they send out.
Potential Trade Targets
Several names have surfaced as realistic targets for the Warriors with the deadline approaching:
Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn Nets): Porter has emerged as the top target after posting career-best numbers with 25.8 points per game on 40.5 percent three-point shooting.
One mock trade involves a three-team deal where the Warriors send Kuminga, Moses Moody, Hield, and their 2026 first-round pick to acquire Porter, though Golden State has balked at including multiple first-round picks.
Andrew Wiggins (Miami Heat): The Warriors have reached out about bringing back Wiggins, who is averaging 15.9 points while shooting a career-high 39.8 percent from three.
A Kuminga-for-Wiggins swap would reunite the 2022 championship wing with Curry and Green.
Miles Bridges (Charlotte Hornets): Reports indicate Bridges is drawing significant interest as a scoring wing option, though his career 33.9 percent three-point shooting raises questions about fit.
Dunleavy delivered a pointed response when asked about Kuminga's trade demand, saying "when you make a demand, there needs to be demand — on the market."
The comments suggest the Warriors may not find the return they want before the deadline.
Looking Ahead
Head coach Steve Kerr has acknowledged the Warriors are a "fading dynasty," but the team is not ready to give up while Curry remains elite.
Monday's blowout loss showed just how quickly things can unravel when key players are unavailable, and whether they make a significant trade or ride out the season, the Warriors need answers quickly if they want to give Curry another championship run.