Biggest Needs and Bold Predictions for Golden State Warriors' 2025 NBA Offseason
Following their 121-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors are out of the 2025 NBA Playoffs and headed into the offseason.
The autopsy for why they went out in five in the second round isn't complicated. Stephen Curry missed the last four games. For years, his absence has generally spelled doom for Golden State.
So, we'll turn our attention instead to what's next. Where do the Warriors go from here? What do they need? And how will they get it?
Their biggest needs and some bold predictions can be found below.
Warriors Will Trade For Another Star (Or Near-Star) Level Player
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The acquisition of Jimmy Butler, as well as the subsequent extension he signed with the Warriors, signaled that the front office is committed to the here and now.
Curry is 37. He just missed the end of this playoff run with a hamstring strain. He isn't likely to get more durable, and he's certainly not going to get younger.
So, the Warriors, who didn't have to expend a ton of trade assets to land Butler, should (and likely will) explore the possibility of adding another veteran difference-maker this season.
They can't piece together a ton of outgoing salary without trading Draymond Green, but Moses Moody and Buddy Hield's 2025-26 salaries add up to around $20 million. Add another young player and maybe combine all three in a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade (more on that later), and Golden State could be in the financial range of someone who could really help during one of Curry's swan song seasons.
Of course, it often takes more than outgoing money to bring back winning NBA players. And fortunately, the Warriors have access to multiple first-round picks they can put in a deal.
Could they revisit the Kevin Durant idea? Will Boston be thinking about tearing things down during their presumed gap year with Jayson Tatum recovering from a torn Achilles?
Golden State probably doesn't have the goods to go after this summer's biggest potential prize, Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it can still make a win-now trade.
They Need a Center
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Draymond Green can still play some 5 in short bursts. Trayce Jackson-Davis has had some moments as a defender and above-the-rim finisher over the last couple years. Quinten Post's outside shooting provides some fascinating possibilities. And even Kevon Looney's consistent effort level and nose for the boards can be helpful.
But even with all of the above, the Warriors don't really have a starting-caliber center to anchor lineups with Curry and Butler.
One of the forgotten catalysts of this team's dynasty over a decade ago was Andrew Bogut, a former first overall pick whose career seemed to be derailed by a devastating injury with the Milwaukee Bucks.
With his size, defensive instincts, passing ability and willingness to forego shots for the good of the team, Bogut was an ideal fit for the younger Warriors.
And while Boguts don't really grow on trees, Golden State does need another big man who checks a lot of those boxes.
Draymond Won't Be Traded
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Draymond's $25.9 million salary in 2025-26 may be the key to stacking up outgoing money for a big trade. And it might be nice to finally have some distance from his repeated outbursts on the floor.
But he and Stephen Curry aren't just in the DNA of this decade-plus run for Golden State. They make up most of the strand.
Letting Klay Thompson walk last summer was tough enough. Don't expect the Warriors to chip away at that old foundation any more.
Even if Green is 35 and likely to pick up plenty more technical and flagrant fouls next season, he seems destined to finish his career as a lifelong Warrior.
They Need More Shooting
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This may sound odd for a team with Curry and Hield, but the Warriors need to find more reliable three-point shooters.
They were fourth in 2025-26 in threes per game, but they were 15th in three-point percentage and 20th in effective field-goal percentage.
And Warriors not named Curry, Hield or Andrew Wiggins (who left in the Butler trade) shot 34.6 percent from deep.
As Curry and Butler continue to age toward retirement, they'll need optimal spacing around those two for them to thrive. Right now, they don't have it.
Jonathan Kuminga Will Move On... In a Sign-and-Trade
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This has been brewing for a couple years now.
Jonathan Kuminga's game has never been a perfect fit for the ball- and player-movement-heavy schemes of Steve Kerr. And Kerr has seemingly run out of patience in trying coach him into a better fit.
Prior to Curry's injury, he'd been removed entirely from the playoff rotation, despite his 15.3 points in the regular season being the third-highest average among current Warriors.
Kuminga, who'll be a restricted free agent this summer, is almost certainly going to be on a different team in 2025-26, but Golden State can't really afford to let him walk for nothing.
As outlined above, it doesn't really have great trade assets after Curry, Butler and Green. Kuminga is probably the best. And while moving him in a sign-and-trade could hard-cap the team in 2025-26, it's probably the best way to get anyone of decent value back this summer.
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