A rival NBA executive believes the Golden State Warriors will definitely be sellers before next season’s trade deadline if their greybeard team can’t stay healthy.
This has been a very disappointing offseason for the Warriors. After missing the playoffs last season, various reports and rumors suggested Golden State wanted to make a big move this summer. However, they failed in their pursuits of Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, and even Jaylen Brown. Now, they will return with much of the same roster from the 2025-26 season.
On paper, the Warriors do have a good roster if Jimmy Butler is close to the player fans saw last season when he returns from a torn ACL. Stephen Curry is still playing at an All-Star level. Draymond Green still does the things to help a team win games. And NBA experts are high on what rookie Yaxel Lendeborg will bring off the bench.
But all of their key veterans, including Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, are in their late 30s or older and/or have lingering injury concerns. While this season seems set up to be the last ride for Curry, Green, and Butler as teammates, a rival executive doesn’t expect them to finish the season together if they can’t be healthy.
Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler could be valuable trade chips for Golden State Warriors before deadline
Oct 21, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) talks to forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Health killed them last year. I think they’re going to wait and see who is healthy, whether that is Jimmy or Moses Moody or even Steph with his knee. Porzingis can’t stay healthy. Al Horford is 40. If they can’t stay healthy, you probably have got to sell and reset for next summer,” the exec told Heavy’s Sean Deveney.
Next summer offers a stacked free agent class that could include All-NBA talent like Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns. Butler and Green’s money comes off the books after this season, and Curry could return on a new multi-year deal with a lower annual average. So they could sign either player next year.
Furthermore, Butler and Green being on expiring contracts would make them intriguing trade chips to a team that feels they could be the final piece on a title contender. While it may disappoint some fans, it would be smart business for the Warriors to be sellers if it is clear they won’t go far or even reach the playoffs next spring.
After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka … More about Jason Burgos