Warriors’ Mid-Season Struggles Prompt Bold Trade Considerations
The Golden State Warriors find themselves in an unexpected position midway through the 2025-26 NBA season, sitting at a modest 16-15 despite boasting a roster that includes three future Hall of Famers. The combination of Stephen Curry (an 11-time All-NBA point guard still displaying his signature shooting prowess), Jimmy Butler (a six-time All-Star small forward known for his two-way excellence), and Draymond Green (a 10-time All-Defensive Team forward) hasn’t translated into the dominance many anticipated. What was expected to be a championship-contending season has instead revealed that Golden State currently lacks the necessary pieces to compete with the Western Conference elite, prompting the front office to consider bold moves that could reshape their roster and championship aspirations.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes of Prime Video, the Warriors are contemplating a significant trade pursuit that would add yet another aging star to their veteran-heavy roster: Dallas Mavericks power forward/center Anthony Davis. Haynes reports, “Today I found something very interesting… I was told [the Warriors] are contemplating making a case to acquire Anthony Davis.” This potential move aligns with Golden State’s previously reported search for a “rim-running big man who can protect the paint” and serve as a “lob threat.” However, Haynes notes that executing such a trade presents substantial challenges, as “Dallas is not that fascinated with what Golden State has on its books,” suggesting the Warriors “would likely have to acquire some more assets or involve another team” to make a realistic offer for the 10-time All-Star big man.
What makes this trade speculation particularly intriguing is Haynes’ framing of the Warriors’ motivation, describing their desire to “assure themselves that they have a defensive, dominant starting center to help Stephen Curry and Draymond Green out for a championship push” – conspicuously omitting Jimmy Butler from this championship equation. This omission seems puzzling considering Butler, at this stage of their careers, is performing at a significantly higher level than Green, who has increasingly become an offensive liability despite his defensive brilliance. From a financial perspective, Butler’s $54.1 million salary conveniently matches Davis’ contract, potentially making him a central piece in any trade package – though Warriors management would ideally prefer to retain Butler alongside Curry and add Davis as a fourth star.
At 32 years old, Davis brings both tremendous upside and significant risk to any potential trade. His injury history remains concerning – ironically demonstrated during the Mavericks’ Christmas Day loss against the Warriors, when he exited with right groin spasms. This pattern of unavailability has plagued Davis throughout recent seasons, earning him the unfortunate “Street Clothes” nickname from critics. However, when healthy, Davis continues to display the elite two-way impact that has defined his career. Through 16 games with the struggling Mavericks (12-20), the Kentucky product has posted impressive averages of 20.5 points on efficient 52.1% shooting, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game, demonstrating his ability to finish around the rim while anchoring a defense.
The Warriors’ interest in Davis reveals their internal assessment that the current roster construction, despite its star power, lacks the necessary interior presence to contend in a highly competitive Western Conference. Golden State’s management appears to recognize their championship window with Curry (now in his mid-30s) continues to narrow, creating urgency to maximize his remaining prime years. Adding Davis would provide the Warriors with elite rim protection they currently lack while giving them a versatile scoring option in the frontcourt who could benefit from Curry’s gravity and playmaking. However, the key question remains whether they can assemble a package attractive enough to tempt Dallas into trading their star big man without sacrificing Butler, whose two-way abilities and championship pedigree are crucial to their current competitive framework.
If the Warriors manage to orchestrate a Davis trade while retaining both Curry and Butler, they could potentially recreate the star-studded formula that has produced championships for them in the past. However, such a move would represent an all-in gamble on four aging stars with significant injury histories, essentially mortgaging their future for one last championship push in the Curry era. As the trade deadline approaches, Golden State’s front office faces the delicate challenge of balancing short-term championship aspirations against long-term sustainability – a dilemma that will likely define the final chapters of their dynasty and determine whether they can add one more championship to their remarkable legacy before their window of contention finally closes.
