The Golden State Warriors suffered an unceremonious end to the NBA season after being taken down by the Phoenix Suns in the Play-In tournament, not even officially making it into the NBA Playoffs proper. 

It's the second time in three seasons that the Warriors have missed the playoffs altogether and for a team that won a championship as recently as 2022, they're looking increasingly out of contention as the Western Conference around them rapidly improves. 

The Warriors are also on a timer. While the team, just re-signed head coach Steve Kerr to a two-year contract extension, their core of Steph Curry and Draymond Green, the last remnants of the mid-2010's Golden State dynasty, are in the twilight of their careers. 

Curry is 38 while Green is 36. Curry is under contract for the 2026-27 season green has a player option in his contract for that same season. That dynamic duo, Curry in particular, are intent on leaving the league as winners and Golden State ownership is not only aware of that, they may be willing to make huge moves to get there.

"[The Warriors] are going to be pulling out all the stops to do something," Sam Amick of The Athletic said. "They know that Steph, as mild-mannered as he is... He's not going to be okay just coasting down the back end of his career. So, whether it's LeBron, whether it's Giannis, whether it's Kawhi... they're going to be making all the phone calls.

LeBron James is one of the highest profile free agents on the market this season, even at age 41, while Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo would have to be acquired via trade, though both could be on the trading block this season.

Antetokounmpo has been increasingly disgruntled with the Milwaukee Bucks over the past season and when there were rumors that he may force a trade at the deadline, which ultimately didn't happen, the Warriors were rumored to be interested. 

In regard to Leonard, he just had one of the best seasons of his career and his stock has been similarly elevated. With the Los Angeles Clippers kickstarting a rebuild, Leonard is the last superstar on the roster that the team has to work with to fully embrace a rebuilding process. 

In either case, the Warriors could make a trade for a superstar work by parting ways with their 11th overall pick in the upcoming while limiting the amount of current players on the roster they would have to part with. 

That draft pick is definitely something the Warriors could work with and if the pressure to win with Curry is truly on, they just might make a deal.