The Golden State Warriors are no longer wondering if they will make a blockbuster trade this offseason. They are wondering who.
Stephen Curry is 38. The championship window is not closed, but it is narrowing by the day. The front office knows that standing pat is not an option. They need to add a difference-maker — someone who can ease the burden on Curry, someone who can protect the rim, someone who can change the complexion of a playoff series.
According to Peter O’Keefe of Blue Man Hoop, that someone could be Anthony Davis.
“Warriors’ timeline aligns with Anthony Davis,” O’Keefe wrote. “Say what you want about Golden State’s ability to contend after finishing 10th in the Western Conference and failing to make the playoffs, but at the very least, they’ll remain relevant while Stephen Curry remains at the franchise.”
Let that sink in. Anthony Davis. The same Anthony Davis who won a championship with the Lakers in 2020. The same Anthony Davis who has been named to 10 All-Star teams. The same Anthony Davis who, when healthy, is arguably the most dominant two-way big man in the NBA.
He is also 33 years old. He is injury-prone. He has been traded twice in less than two years — first from the Lakers to the Mavericks, then from the Mavericks to the Wizards. He didn’t play a single game for Washington this season due to a hand injury. And now, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, he could be traded again before next season.
The Warriors have been down this road before. They took a chance on another injury-prone center in Kristaps Porzingis. That move worked out reasonably well when Porzingis was healthy. But Porzingis has a player option for next season, and his potential departure could leave a major hole at the five.
Enter Anthony Davis.
The fit is tantalizing. Davis is the most skilled big man the Warriors would have had in the Curry era. His lethal face-up game in the mid-post. His ability to finish lobs from Curry in pick-and-roll situations. His rim protection, which remains elite when he is on the floor.
But the injury concerns are real. They are significant. They are the reason Davis might be available at all.
The Warriors have never been afraid of risk. They gambled on a broken-down DeMarcus Cousins. They gambled on a rehabbing Klay Thompson. They gambled on a struggling Andrew Wiggins. Sometimes those gambles paid off. Sometimes they didn’t.
Anthony Davis is the biggest gamble yet.
Let’s break down why the Warriors should pursue him, why they might hesitate, and whether a Curry-Davis partnership could be the final chapter of a dynasty.
Let’s start with a reminder of what Anthony Davis is capable of when healthy.
He is a 6-foot-10, 253-pound forward/center who has been named to 10 All-Star teams, four All-NBA First Teams, and four All-Defensive teams. He won a championship with the Lakers in 2020. He is a future Hall of Famer.
His skill set is almost unparalleled for a player his size. He can score from the post. He can face up and hit mid-range jumpers. He can roll to the rim and finish lobs. He can step out to the three-point line (though that part of his game has faded). Defensively, he is a rim-protecting eraser who can also switch onto guards in a pinch.
When Davis is healthy, he is a top-10 player in the world. He is the kind of player who can single-handedly change a playoff series. He is the kind of player who could extend Curry’s championship window by two or three years.
The problem, as always, is health.
Let’s talk about the injuries, because they are impossible to ignore.
Anthony Davis has missed significant time in almost every season of his career. His nickname “Street Clothes” is not kind, but it is rooted in reality. He has dealt with knee issues, ankle issues, back issues, and now hand issues. He played in just 56 games in 2023-24, 62 games in 2024-25, and 0 games for Washington after the trade this season.
The hand injury that sidelined him after the trade to Washington is concerning. But the larger issue is the cumulative toll of a decade-plus of wear and tear on his body.
The Warriors have experience with injury-prone stars. Stephen Curry had ankle issues early in his career. Klay Thompson missed two full seasons. Andrew Wiggins has missed time. But Curry and Thompson recovered. Wiggins has been relatively durable.
Davis is a different case. His body has betrayed him repeatedly. The question is not whether he can play — it’s whether he can stay on the court when it matters most.
Let’s put aside the injury concerns for a moment and imagine Davis in a Warriors uniform.
Offensively: Stephen Curry is the greatest shooter in NBA history. His gravity warps defenses. When Curry runs a pick-and-roll with Davis, what do you do? Do you go over the screen and leave Davis rolling to the rim? Do you go under and let Curry shoot? Do you switch and leave a guard on Davis? There is no right answer. Every option is wrong.
Davis is a career 79% free-throw shooter. You can’t hack him. He is a career 68% finisher at the rim. You can’t stop him. And he is a willing passer out of double teams.
Defensively: Davis is one of the best rim protectors in NBA history. He averages over 2 blocks per game for his career. He alters shots even when he doesn’t block them. Pairing him with Draymond Green would give the Warriors a defensive frontcourt that could rival any in the league.
The fit is not just good — it’s almost perfect.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis has a player option for next season. If he opts out, the Warriors will need a replacement at center. Even if he stays, the Warriors could use an upgrade. Porzingis is a good player, but he is not Anthony Davis.
Porzingis is a stretch-five who spaces the floor. Davis is a traditional big who dominates the paint. They are different players, but they are not redundant. In fact, they could complement each other.
If Porzingis leaves, the gap at center becomes a chasm. The Warriors would need someone who can start and produce at an All-Star level. Davis can do that — when healthy.
If the Warriors trade for Davis, they would likely need to move Porzingis to make the salaries work. That’s a conversation for another day. But the possibility of Porzingis leaving in free agency only increases the urgency to find a replacement.
Now let’s talk about the price, because Davis is not a free agent. He is under contract.
Davis is owed approximately $43 million next season. The Warriors would need to match salaries in a trade. That likely means sending out Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and perhaps a young player or draft picks.
The Wizards are rebuilding. They have no use for a 33-year-old injury-prone center. They would be motivated to move Davis for assets. The question is what those assets would be.
A package centered around Wiggins and a future first-round pick might be enough. The Warriors could also include Jonathan Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski — though they would be reluctant to part with either.
The cost is significant. But the potential reward is a championship.
Let’s not pretend this trade is without risk. It is loaded with it.
Risk 1: Health. Davis has missed significant time in almost every season of his career. If he gets hurt in the playoffs, the Warriors are sunk.
Risk 2: Age. Davis is 33. He is not the same player who dominated the bubble in 2020. He is still elite, but his prime is behind him.
Risk 3: Chemistry. Davis has never played with Curry. There would be an adjustment period. The Warriors’ offense would need to incorporate his post-ups. The defense would need to learn how to rotate with a new piece.
Risk 4: Opportunity cost. If the Warriors trade for Davis and he gets hurt, they have mortgaged their future for nothing. Wiggins would be gone. The draft picks would be gone. And the Warriors would be left with an aging, injured superstar and no path to improve.
These risks are real. They are significant. They are the reason Davis might be available at all.
So, after all that analysis, what’s the bottom line? Should the Golden State Warriors trade for Anthony Davis?
The answer depends on what you believe about this team’s championship window.
If you believe that the Warriors can still win with Curry — that they are one piece away from contention — then yes, they should pursue Davis. He is the most talented big man they could realistically acquire. He would transform their offense and their defense.
If you believe that the Warriors are too old, too injured, too far gone — that the dynasty is over — then no, they should not trade for Davis. They should rebuild. They should collect assets. They should prepare for the post-Curry era.
The Warriors’ front office has to make a decision. They have never been afraid of bold moves. They traded for Kevin Durant when it was unpopular. They traded for Andrew Wiggins when he was considered a bust. They traded for Jimmy Butler when others thought he was too old.
Each time, they were proven right.
Anthony Davis is a gamble. A massive, franchise-altering gamble. But the Warriors have never been a team that plays it safe.
If they believe they can win, they should swing for the fences.
The Golden State Warriors are at a crossroads. Stephen Curry is 38. The championship window is closing. The front office knows that standing pat is not an option.
Anthony Davis is available. He is 33 years old. He is injury-prone. He has been traded twice in less than two years. He didn’t play a single game for Washington after the trade.
But when healthy, he is a top-10 player in the world. He is a dominant two-way force. He is the most skilled big man the Warriors would have had in the Curry era.
The fit is tantalizing. The risk is terrifying. The cost is significant.
But the Warriors have never been afraid of risk. They gambled on DeMarcus Cousins. They gambled on Klay Thompson’s recovery. They gambled on Andrew Wiggins’ resurrection.
Sometimes they won. Sometimes they lost.
Anthony Davis is the biggest gamble yet. He could be the piece that extends the dynasty. He could be the piece that finally breaks it.
The Warriors have to choose.
Stay the course, or swing for the fences.
If they swing, Anthony Davis should be their target.