Is it really over for the Golden State Warriors? It hasn't been for lack of trying, but the Warriors no longer look like they have a chance to compete for a title. Jimmy Butler's injury at the end of the season practically sealed the Dubs' fate: whatever slim chances they had of competing for a championship vanished when Butler aggravated his knee and tore his ACL on an errant pass from Brandin Podziemski.
The Warriors' two-timeline ploy didn't work. James Wiseman was a failure. Jonathan Kuminga has not lived up to expectations. Moses Moody is a role player, a quality player, but not a star who can take over the team. Jordan Poole flared up and upset one of the pillars of the franchise in Draymond Green. And now, the Dubs are stuck with a mediocre and aging roster that is going to have their work cut out for them in a Western Conference challenge.
Credit should go where credit is due; The warriors are still not giving up. They traded for Kristaps Porzingis in a deal that sent Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks, taking the risk that Porzingis' talent is worth the gamble despite his season-long battle against POTS.
This trade created a roster spot for the Warriors, although they had already filled one of their open roster spots by converting Pat Spencer's contract to a standard deal, a move that made sense considering how instrumental Spencer has been in covering the team's injury problems.
The Dubs created another roster spot when they traded Tracy Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a second-round pick. With that in mind, the Warriors may have one more move left to make to prepare for the stretch run ahead.
Will the Warriors raid the buyout market?
Before diving into the potential targets the Warriors may set their sights on filling their open roster spot, their financial situation should be taken into consideration. Currently, the Warriors have a total of $205.2 million allocated for their player payroll, which puts them above the tax apron. They are a repeat tax-paying team, which will only serve to make their luxury tax penalty more punitive.
This also reduces their flexibility in the buyout market. The Warriors cannot sign any players in the buyout market whose contract was worth at least $14.1 million (equivalent to non-taxpayer MLE) this season because they were above the first apron. Not many buyout candidates are making that much money anyway, so it's not like it'll be a huge factor for the Dubs moving forward.
The Dubs don't need help at the guard positions. In addition to Stephen Curry, the Warriors have the following playing minutes at the one and two: Podziemski, De'Anthony Melton, Spencer, Gary Payton II and Will Richard. Seth Curry could also be a factor after returning from injury.
Whatever happens, the Warriors need help on the wing. Butler's injury and Kuminga's departure have further depleted the Dubs' depth at the position, pushing Gui Santos into the starting role. Santos has been very much solid and seems like he has established himself as at least a quality role player, but their depth on the wing leaves a lot to be desired.
The Warriors were rumored to be interested in Lonzo Ball, but Ball has looked bad all season, and although he can play one position, he doesn't necessarily provide anything different than the likes of Payton or Melton. He can be a play initiator, and his court vision is still top-notch, but it might be best for the Dubs to reserve their open roster spot for someone else.
The current buyout market does not inspire much confidence. Of those who have already been forgiven, someone like Chris Boucher matters the most. Boucher is also a former Warriors player, so that could make some sense.
Still, Boucher hasn't played well enough to earn minutes for the Boston Celtics despite the battle for the wide-open position at center, and it's not like the Dubs need help at the big man spots, considering they have Green, Al Horford, Quinton Post and now Porzingis to fill all the minutes at five.
Of the players who could potentially be acquired, someone like Kyle Anderson or Nicolas Batum would make the most sense for the Dubs, although it's not at all clear if those two will get a nod of departure from their teams.
Dubs could bring back a familiar face
Batum is unlikely to leave the Los Angeles Clippers. The veteran credited the team for saving his career in 2020, and he clearly loves the franchise. Furthermore, the Clippers value him as a veteran presence, and rumor has it that he will hang up his sneakers after the season. LA has already let him go once, and they're not doing it again.
This brings the Warriors into a possible reunion with a familiar face in Anderson. Slo-Mo signed with the Dubs ahead of the 2024-25 season, and he was traded to the Miami Heat in the deal that brought Butler to the Bay. He played in 36 games for the Warriors and started three games, playing 15.0 minutes a night.
Anderson is the kind of cerebral veteran that Kerr relies on, and his playmaking, defending and feel for the game make him an easy piece to integrate for the Dubs.
He's not going to be a very impactful veteran for the Warriors, but he should at least give the team additional insurance at the forward position. The Memphis Grizzlies are also betting on the 2025-26 campaign, meaning Anderson could very well be bought out, paving the way for a return to the Bay.
However, it's unclear whether the Warriors have any desire to fill their open roster spot. This will only increase their luxury tax bill. But if they do, bringing in Anderson wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
