The Golden State Warriors may be screwed

The Golden State Warriors may be screwed

The Golden State Warriors were one of the hottest teams to begin the 2024-25 season, but that streak was short-lived, as they flatlined and were in need of an answer to salvage the season.

Enter Jimmy Butler, who was disgruntled with the Miami Heat after not earning a two-year extension last offseason. Butler lost his joy, was suspended on three different occasions and, when he was available, played lousy (but decided to throw Erik Spoelstra under the bus instead).

After being acquired by Golden State in a five-team blockbuster, Butler, 35, got his two-year extension and looked completely rejuvenated alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

I liked the trio in the short term, but what I had questions about was how this would unfold long-term.

How they played in the regular season far exceeded my expectations. The Warriors went 22-5 to close the regular season when all three played—despite only climbing up a couple of spots in the standings in a loaded West.

The Warriors were eventually eliminated this week in the Western Conference semifinals in five games by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Stephen Curry missed all but 13 minutes in the series with a hamstring strain while Butler dealt with a pelvic contusion, suffered in the Houston Rockets series.

As we enter this offseason, I have serious concerns about how they look long-term.

The aging Warriors may not have a conceivable path to contend in 2026-27 unless more drastic changes occur:

Butler was everything as advertised with Golden State with how impactful he was as a shot creator and off-ball defender. He’s one of the smartest players in today’s game, knowing when to pick his spots to attack creases and hunt deflections defensively.

However, Butler has gotten seriously injured in each of the last four postseasons: He injured his knee in Game 3 against Boston in the 2022 East Finals; he injured his ankle in Game 1 of the East Semis against New York and he suffered a sprained MCL in last year’s play-in against Philadelphia.

You can visibly tell that he doesn’t look as explosive with enough burst or lift. Butler relies on physical drives to the rim and that doesn’t age gracefully in today’s NBA–especially when you’re a non-spacer, like Butler is.

Not to mention, Curry and Green aren’t getting any younger either.

Green and Curry are now 35- and 37-years-old, respectively, while Butler won’t turn 36 until September. Those three players alone will account for roughly 90 percent of the cap next season and 87 percent of the cap in 2026-27, according to Spotrac. Top-heavy squads (especially aging ones) don’t win in today’s two-apron economy. Look at the Phoenix Suns, for example.

Their supporting cast isn’t great either. Perhaps they could fetch something in a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade this offseason, but Buddy Hield (entering age-33 season), Brandon Podziemski and Quinten Post are the team’s most attractive assets (in no order) entering 2025-26.

Golden State is projected to have some space below the two aprons, but that doesn’t factor in potentially re-signing Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney or Pat Spencer.

Mavericks may have won the lottery, but they still have work to do

All in all, their cap situation is a mess. Oh, and every single good player is flocking to the West–even Cooper Flagg! Giannis Antetokounmpo could be next!

The Warriors could be competitive, but they simply don’t have enough to contend right now and that’s why they acquired Butler. I’ve learned never to say never when it comes to this league, but barring completely unforeseen–like a (super)star talent forcing his way to Golden State, tough decisions may have to be made sooner rather than later.

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