The Golden State Warriors missed the playoffs this season because of various injuries. Stephen Curry missed 39 games this season. He tried to singlehandedly win two play-in games to get Golden State into the playoffs, but failed to do so.
Jimmy Butler tore his ACL in January and ended up only playing 38 games. Once he was injured, any hopes of the Warriors winning a title were out the window. There were rumors that they could include him in a trade package at the deadline for a superstar .
They did not end up doing that. In fact, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that they never entertained doing that.
Warriors Never Considered Trading Jimmy Butler
According to Fischer, Golden State never thought about parting ways with Butler, despite the injury .
“They refused to discuss trading away Butler in February, league sources say, even after Butler was lost for the season to a torn ACL,” Fischer wrote .
The Warriors’ front office, led by general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., made it clear to Butler that he was part of their long-term plans. According to a league source, the Warriors “have voiced to Butler a plan to keep him despite the ACL tear, believing he will rehab and boost them upon his return at some point next season” .
The Butler Contract: A Massive Expiring Deal
The Warriors traded for Butler last season from the Miami Heat. They were hoping he would be the perfect superstar to pair with Curry. When those two stars share the floor together, Golden State is a very good team. The issue is that neither of them shares the floor very often.
Butler’s large contract is also hard to move. Butler is making $56.8 million next season, which will be an expiring deal . If the Warriors decide they want to move on from him, it would make sense for them to do so next year.
He has one year left on his contract and will be 37 years old when the 2026-27 season begins.
The Recovery: A Long Road Back
Butler suffered the torn ACL on Jan. 19 during a win over the Miami Heat . He underwent surgery on Feb. 9 and has been rehabbing ever since .
Typical ACL recovery is a 9-to-12 month timeline, which puts Butler on track to return sometime during the 2026-27 NBA season . Steve Kerr suggested that Butler might not be ready until “midseason or so” .
Despite the long road ahead, Butler remains optimistic.
“I do want to come back. We all know that,” Butler said in March. “Whenever my body is ready, I promise I’m trying to get back out there” .
The Offseason Plan: Adding Another Star
Because of the timing of the injury to Butler, he should be ready to go near the start of the season. It’s unlikely that the Warriors will try to move him in the offseason, either. Instead, they will try to add another superstar alongside him and Curry. They have three superstars in mind for that: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and LeBron James .
If the Warriors want to get into any potential Antetokounmpo discussions again this summer, Butler’s contract would almost certainly have to be part of those talks . But as of now, the Warriors have shown no intention of moving him.
Golden State is in Store for an Eventful Offseason
The Warriors will have several things to figure out this summer. Other than trying to find another superstar, they have to figure out the future of Steve Kerr. He doesn’t have a contract for next season, although Kerr has said he doesn’t want to coach for another team.
Curry has voiced his support for bringing Kerr back. If they don’t, Golden State will have to bring in an experienced voice whom Curry and Draymond Green respect. That might be hard to do with so few candidates fitting that bill available this hiring cycle.
This season, the Warriors had just the 19th-ranked offense in the regular season. Getting Butler back into the lineup should help with that, in addition to adding another star in the summer. Sticking with Butler was likely the right move by the front office, although next season will be the true barometer for that decision.
Golden State is close to a rebuild if they are not able to go deep in the playoffs next season.
The Verdict: A Calculated Gamble
The Warriors are betting on Butler’s recovery. They are betting that he can return to form. They are betting that he, Curry, and another star can make one last run.
It is a gamble. Butler will be 37. He is coming off a major knee injury. His contract is massive.
But the Warriors have never been afraid of bold moves. They traded for Durant. They traded for Butler. They traded for Porzingis.
Now, they are betting on Butler to lead them back to contention.
If he does, the gamble pays off. If he doesn’t, the Warriors will be facing a rebuild.
The offseason is just beginning. The decisions will be made. And the Warriors’ future hangs in the balance.