Following Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury, a new report suggests the Golden State Warriors could make a very surprising pivot […]
Following Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury, a new report suggests the Golden State Warriors could make a very surprising pivot before next month’s NBA trade deadline.
This has been far from the season the Warriors expected. After trading for Butler before last year’s deadline, Golden State emerged as a real title contender until a hamstring injury to Steph Curry in the playoffs derailed their championship aspirations.
But their strong finish to the regular season offered hope of a big 2025-26. Yet they have struggled for much of the season. That is why they have been linked to various trade rumors in recent weeks, including for injured Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis.
However, a huge wrench was thrown into any potential plans when Butler tore his ACL during the Warriors’ win against the Miami Heat on Monday. The awful injury came at the worst time because Golden State seemed to be developing serious momentum after winning five of six.
Warriors plan to hold on to Jonathan Kuminga now?
Without Butler, the Warriors’ season seems unofficially over. So what does that mean for their potential trade plans? In whatever deal they made, they would have probably added Jonathan Kuminga in the return package. He was seen as a valuable trade chip after he inked a new two-year deal worth $48 million this summer.
Furthermore, Kuminga has been a healthy scratch for much of the last month. Confirming a trade was coming. Well, maybe not, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“The best short-term option might legitimately be trying to work Kuminga back into their rotation for the rest of the season — as badly as he wants to leave town — in hopes that his trade value rebounds,” Stein wrote. “The end game in that scenario would be pushing a resolution to Kuminga’s future into the offseason by (gasp) picking up his $24.3 million team option for 2026-27 to provide ultimate down-the-road optionality.”
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