The Golden State Warriors have made waves once again at the NBA trade deadline, orchestrating a bold move that brings 7-foot-3 big man Kristaps Porzingis to the Bay Area while reaffirming their commitment to core veterans Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III. The deal, completed just before the February 7, 2026, cutoff, sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Porzingis, whose unique skill set is expected to address glaring needs in rim protection and floor spacing for a Warriors squad in transition.
General manager Mike Dunleavy, addressing the media at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, wasted no time setting the record straight on swirling trade rumors, particularly those involving Draymond Green. “I’d walk that back,” Dunleavy said, denying that Green was actively shopped. “His name was not in conversations other than the ones where teams called me to ask about him. The idea that he stayed with the Warriors past the deadline was greatly exaggerated. It was never a possibility of him not being here or remotely close. I’ve conveyed that to him.”
Green himself added some intrigue to the narrative, recounting on his podcast a candid call with Dunleavy just days before the deadline. According to Green, “He didn’t rule it out. He didn’t say we’re not putting you in the deal. So I took that as, ‘All right, that’ll probably be me.'” The reality, however, was that the Warriors’ pursuit of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo would have required the inclusion of either Green or Butler to make salaries match—yet the Bucks never bit on Golden State’s package of draft picks, and the scenario never materialized.
That didn’t mean the Warriors were idle. With the Antetokounmpo dream shelved, the front office pivoted quickly, executing a deal for Porzingis—a player whose combination of size, shooting, and defensive presence has long tantalized NBA executives. Porzingis, who averaged 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17 games for Atlanta this season while connecting on 36% of his three-point attempts, joins Golden State at a pivotal moment. His season, however, has been marred by Achilles tendinitis and the lingering effects of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), limiting his availability.
Porzingis arrived in Los Angeles on February 6 and immediately began integrating with the Warriors’ staff, participating in a court workout and meeting with Rick Celebrini, the team’s lead medical decision maker. “I’m in really, really good hands,” Porzingis said, expressing confidence in the Warriors’ medical team. “If not some of the best hands.” The plan? Hold Porzingis out of the final three games before the All-Star break, keep him in San Francisco for focused court work, and target a debut against his former team, the Boston Celtics, on February 19. “48 straight [minutes],” Porzingis joked about his anticipated return. “But we’ll see what the medical staff has for me. I want to hit the ground running.”
For Dunleavy, the addition of Porzingis is about more than just a quick fix. “We love the player, Kristaps, we think he can help us with some of the stuff on court seeing his rim protection, his ability to score, get fouled, take care of the ball – all things that we’re looking to improve, particularly after losing Jimmy [Butler],” Dunleavy explained. The loss of Butler, who is recovering from a torn ACL and is not expected back for about a year, has forced the Warriors to reimagine their lineup and recalibrate their ambitions for the remainder of the season.
The trade also opened up two roster spots, and the Warriors wasted little time filling one: point guard Pat Spencer was converted from a two-way contract to a standard NBA deal for the rest of the season. Dunleavy indicated that the team will scour the buyout market for the 15th and final roster spot, keeping the door open for further tweaks as the playoff race intensifies.
All the while, the Warriors’ front office remains acutely aware of the ticking clock on their championship window. Stephen Curry, who turns 38 next month, continues to play at an elite level, but the roster is aging and the margin for error is shrinking. Butler’s $56.8 million salary, Green’s $27.7 million player option for next season, and Curry’s own $62 million-plus contract underscore the financial tightrope Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob must walk. Yet, with Porzingis on a $30.7 million expiring contract and the team retaining his Bird Rights, the Warriors maintain flexibility heading into a crucial offseason.
Dunleavy made it clear that the franchise is not content to stand pat. “We’re willing to do whatever it takes to improve this team, whether it’s young players, first-round picks – we always have been, we always will be as long as we’re in this win-now window,” he said. “Despite the idea that we’re not in the mix, that we’re fading, all this stuff, the reality is, up until Jimmy got hurt we were pretty good and I think we’re trending in the right direction. Now we’ve had to pivot a little bit. I think adding Kristaps can help, but, you know, this group is kind of what it is.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by league observers and fans alike. The Warriors’ pursuit of Antetokounmpo—though ultimately unsuccessful—signaled their continued ambition, and the retention of all future first-round picks keeps them well-positioned for future blockbuster deals. “We’ve got the goods to make deals,” Dunleavy asserted. “I think the only way we wouldn’t be in the mix is if we gave out assets, young players, all the things you need to get a great player. We still have all that. I think that’s one of the reasons the KP trade is really good for us, similar to Jimmy last year. We don’t feel like we gave up a ton. We still have the kind of firepower to move forward and do more deals.”
As the dust settles on the trade deadline, the Warriors find themselves at a crossroads—balancing the urgency of the present with the possibilities of the future. The focus now shifts back to the court, where Porzingis’ eventual debut looms large and every game carries heightened stakes. With a roster still brimming with talent and a front office unafraid to take big swings, Golden State’s next chapter promises to be anything but dull.
All eyes will be on February 19, when Porzingis is expected to make his Warriors debut against the Celtics. Until then, the franchise and its fans will be watching, waiting, and wondering—could this be the move that keeps the dynasty alive?