Blockbuster NBA Trade Idea to Save Golden State Warriors' Season After Jimmy Butler Injury

Remember when the biggest puzzle for the Golden State Warriors to solve was the murky trade value of fifth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga?

The injury bug unfortunately had other ideas.

Because with Jimmy Butler mercilessly lost to a torn ACL, the Warriors just lost their road map for NBA trade season. The idea of flipping Kuminga for a possible finishing piece is out the window, because if Butler is removed from the equation, then there's nothing that needs finishing.

Unless Golden State wants to lean into the cold, calculated and ultimately heartless business side of basketball and subtract Butler in a different way. It'd be risky, it'd be desperate and it'd be brutal, but it feels like the Warriors' options are either accepting this is the end of their run and building one last Hail Mary throw around Butler's contract and draft capital.

What exactly could that combination bring back? Maybe a 10-time All-Star if the Dallas Mavericks are ready to fully focus on their Cooper Flagg-featured future. Let us explain.

Full Trade Details

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Golden State Warriors receive: Anthony Davis

Dallas Mavericks receive: Jimmy Butler, 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected), 2028 first-round pick

Why the Golden State Warriors Do It

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Obituaries for the Dubs' dynasty are already being written. And rightfully so. If Golden State can't snag someone to fill the sidekick slot next to Curry soon, then this joy ride is officially finished.

The Warriors can't go out like this, can they? This group looked legitimately dangerous—dare I say, championship-level—for the past month (12-4 with the sixth-best net rating), and then, poof: one awkward landing, and the joy ride is just over? No last dance for the Dubs? No heroic sendoff for Steph? Just an it-is-what-it-is acceptance?

Perhaps that's the most prudent long-term approach, but it just doesn't feel like this franchise's style. And maybe this is drawing too much from the #feelz department, but it just seems like Golden State can't let this happen. Not when there are still trade chips to play. And not when Butler's massive salary could facilitate another dream-big deal.

Anthony Davis wouldn't be a clear replicate of Butler, but he could serve in similar co-starring capacities. Davis might come with even more injury risk (he's currently sidelined with ligament damage in his left hand) and less shot-creation, but he could provide plenty of support scoring while also addressing nagging needs for size, rebounding and paint protection.

If the Warriors could just keep him upright, they'd have someone who averaged 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 blocks just last season. And in the campaign prior, he posted the same or better averages across 76 contests while earning All-NBA and All-Defensive honors.

When he's at his best, he is a true difference-maker. His play-finishing could flourish with such a dynamic playmaker like Curry. Davis would provide similar rim pressure as Butler, an essential skill for this otherwise jump shot-reliant offense. Having Davis on the interior would also give Golden State more than a puncher's chance of handling some of the jumbo-sized obstacles lining the championship course.

All of the risk factors could prevent this from working, but if everything broke exactly right, the Warriors should have a chance of doing something. Maybe something pretty significant given Curry's brilliance, Davis' big-stage success (one title run under his belt) and the front office's capacity to do more before the deadline if it wanted to just blow the budget entirely.

That's a glass-overflowing level of optimism, obviously, but the Warriors can and should be dreaming as big as possible, because they've seen Curry's ability to work miracles time and again. And since they know the window is quickly closing around their magician, they can and arguably should keep acting with a borderline reckless level of urgency.

Why the Dallas Mavericks Do It

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The Mavericks are less than a calendar year removed from collecting the draft lottery's ultimate prize. Shouldn't they be chasing as many scratch-off tickets as they can find?

Remember, after this upcoming draft—which, for the uninformed, looks absolutely loaded—they won't control their first-round pick again until 2031. Even with a handful of teams already in full-on tank mode, Dallas seems primed for a post-deadline race to the bottom.

The prospect of adding another blue-chipper alongside Flagg is infinitely more interesting than keeping fingers crossed that he'll enjoy substantial success with Davis and Kyrie Irving. Especially when Dallas would leave this hypothetical deal with two bites at the 2026 draft apple, including a lightly protected first from a team that had a sub-.500 record as recently as mid-December and would be back at the mercy of another fragile 30-something.

Throw in the incoming 2028 first—notably conveyed following the season after Curry's final contracted campaign—and that's three decent-to-strong chances of putting building blocks alongside Flagg. Coax further development out of Max Christie and get better injury luck with Dereck Lively II, and Dallas could have quite the young core on its hands.

If the young Mavericks show signs of life sooner than later, this deal could help complement the core, too. Because while Davis has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, Butler's deal expires after next season—as would the sizable salaries tied to Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall.

If Dallas finds takers for Irving, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington between now and then, it might have very little on the books beyond rookie-scale money for the summer of 2027, which could be absurdly loaded with impact free agents. And if the Mavs aren't ready to buy by then, they could still serve as a salary-dumping ground for those that are and rebuild their draft capital in the process.

All eyes in Dallas would be fully affixed to the future by this trade, but that should arguably be the case right now. Flagg offers limitless possibilities for this franchise, and this deal would make it easier to explore all of them.