The Warriors can save the dynasty by going all-in on Giannis
Jimmy Butler’s injury has extinguished the Warriors’ remaining NBA title hopes. Now it’s either a rebuild or a full-speed chase for a superstar – with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the top of the list
Just a few days ago, Steve Kerr hinted that the Warriors’ dynasty might be entering its final phase. Those words now feel prophetic: Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL has suddenly reshaped the entire outlook in Golden State.
Is it really over? Since arriving in the Bay exactly one year ago, Butler had raised the team’s ceiling, convincing the front office that Golden State still had what it takes to compete at the highest level—starting this very season.
Twelve wins in the last sixteen games with Butler on the floor had reinforced the belief that the franchise could honor Stephen Curry’s greatness by chasing a fifth championship. Then the knee injury put everything back into question.
With the trade deadline approaching, all scenarios remain on the table. Owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy are expected to carefully evaluate every option, beginning with a possible decision to put Butler on the market and a broader reassessment of Jonathan Kuminga’s future.
The fact that Butler has one year left on his contract – even though he won’t return before the end of next season – makes him a tradable asset. In this context, Kuminga becomes a central piece, even if Golden State is still waiting for the right offers.
If he truly wanted to step up, Kuminga’s technical and character limitations have become clear over the past two seasons. His public back-and-forth with Kerr, combined with the trade request he submitted last offseason, made it evident that the former West Virginia product cannot be the cornerstone of the franchise’s future.
The market now looks like a defining crossroads for the Warriors. Looming over every discussion is Giannis Antetokounmpo, theoretically attainable through a package built around Butler, Kuminga, and multiple draft picks. On one side, Golden State would remain firmly in win-now mode; on the other, the Bucks would begin what feels like an inevitable reset.
A move of this magnitude wouldn’t just decide the Warriors’ future – it would determine whether the dynasty truly fades away, or gets one last, audacious shot at immortality.