The long-speculated blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis with the Golden State Warriors fizzled out earlier this month after the 10-time All-Star suffered yet another injury, sidelining him potentially through the All-Star break. But Jimmy Butler’s catastrophic season-ending ACL tear during Monday night’s game against the Miami Heat has flipped the script, forcing the Warriors to revisit every option—including a renewed pursuit of Davis, injury concerns and all.
In a cruel twist of fate, Butler and Davis make for an ideal salary match in any potential swap. Prior to this, Golden State had no intention of parting with their star forward, whose arrival last February transformed the franchise. Yet, as heartless as it may seem, the Warriors must now seriously weigh trading Butler, as Clutch Points’ Brett Siegel reported on Tuesday.
“With nearly two weeks until the trade deadline, all options are on the table for the Warriors, including the possibility of moving Butler to bolster their championship aspirations this season,” Siegel noted.
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Davis emerges as a prime candidate to rescue Golden State from this nightmare. Deal structures could vary, but the key hurdle will be convincing the Dallas Mavericks to absorb Butler’s hefty $56.8 million salary next season—and how many draft picks it would take to seal the agreement.
Initial fears that Davis might miss the entire season have eased; he dodged surgery on his hand and could suit up again—possibly for a new squad—by late next month. The Warriors might just need to tread water until then, unlocking a potent Stephen Curry-Draymond Green-Davis triumvirate with enough time to gel for a playoff surge.
Pursuing Davis amid his checkered injury record screams desperation, especially since his stock has plummeted following the high-profile Luka Doncic trade less than a year ago. But desperation defines Golden State’s reality now. With a 38-year-old Curry still performing at an MVP caliber, can they afford to waste one of his twilight seasons? The clock is ticking—two weeks to turn tragedy into triumph.