SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 It would be a competitive felony if the Warriors\u2019 shot-callers were to stroll past the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline as opponents run circles around their team, as the Toronto Raptors did Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
One of those shot-callers, general manager Mike Dunleavy, says he\u2019s willing to do what\u2019s necessary in hopes of avoiding such a nightmare. For the right offer, of course.<\/p>\n
Any trade that would give the Warriors a reasonable possibility of even a modest NBA playoff run \u2013 giving franchise superstar Stephen Curry a reasonable chance to be a factor in games that matter most \u2013 would require moving a lot more than Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>, whose prominent availability has yet to warm the market.<\/p>\n To get an impact player, the Warriors almost certainly would have to sacrifice one or more future first-round draft picks. They should. And Dunleavy knows this must be an option.<\/p>\n \u201cOur picks always will and have been in play,\u201d Dunleavy said Tuesday night, 45 minutes before a 145-127 loss<\/a> to the Raptors at Chase Center. \u201cTo give up our picks, it’s got to be meaningful to get something back. So, for that reason, there’s only so many players out there that probably warrant putting stuff like that on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we’re looking at everything. Joe Lacob is our owner, so you’re always exploring all possibilities, willing to do any type of deal.\u201d<\/p>\n Lacob, the team\u2019s CEO, would have the final word on any significant transaction. He has a shoot-for-stars mentality, though, as evidenced with his authorizing the expensive trade that brought Jimmy Butler III to the Warriors last February. Butler\u2019s status as a six-time NBA All-Star with a deep postseason resume warranted moving the team\u2019s 2025 first-round pick.<\/p>\n Dunleavy has been exploring multiple options for several weeks, but his search is now accelerated by the loss of Butler, who on Monday sustained a season-ending ACL injury<\/a>. That the Warriors were building momentum, winning 11 of their last 15 games before Butler went down, adds urgency to the GM\u2019s quest.<\/p>\n The Warriors (25-20) sit in eighth place in the Western Conference, and Butler\u2019s absence makes it unlikely they\u2019ll rise any higher. He has been one half of the team\u2019s twin touchstones, Curry being the other half. Being clobbered by the Raptors offers a glimpse of a potential skid.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t think there’s an argument to make that we’re a better team without Jimmy Butler,\u201d Dunleavy conceded. \u201cSo, no doubt that’s something we’re going to have to figure out and find a way to win some games.\u201d<\/p>\n Dunleavy then veered into momentary delusion.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think this group is capable,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously with Steph and Draymond, their championship pedigree, you add in Al [Horford] who’s in there, [De’Anthony Melton’s] having a great year. And then our young players, [Brandin Podziemski], Moses [Moody], [Quinten Post], we’ve got a good, deep team. A lot of people are contributing and there’s no doubt in my mind we can continue to win games.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re just . . . let’s call it what it is, we’re not as good without Jimmy.\u201d<\/p>\n