The 2024-25 Golden State Warriors are certainly a ‘good’ team. But despite their strong footing within the Western Conference standing, currently the fifth seed, I think we’ve seen enough to confidently say the 2024-25 Warriors are not a ‘great’ team. Without some sort of major shakeup or change, the Warriors cannot with a straight face look themselves in the mirror and call themselves contenders.
As a result, it’s no wonder reports have begun popping up in reference to the Warriors being on the hunt for a second star as a trade target. Stephen Curry is still as otherworldly as he’s ever been, but without a true co-star, his fifth championship will continue to elude him.
With highly sought-after trade chips like Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and the expiring contract of De’Anthony Melton, along with multiple tradable future draft picks, the Warriors have the necessary tools to pull off a blockbuster trade. Are the Warriors really willing to mortgage their future for potential short-term gains however? And if so, are there any takers out there in the trade market? Below is a ranking of three players who, at one time or another, have been mentioned as potential trade targets for the Warriors.
3 All-Star Wings Who Could be In-Play to Be Steph Curry’s New Co-Star
Warriors’ Third-Option: Brandon Ingram
Marred by injuries and sitting in last place in the Western Conference, the Pelicans are well off their expected pace. It takes a special sort of belief—delusion?—for a 5-20 team to insist that they’re still capable of crawling their way back into the uber-competitive Western Conference playoff picture. Yet, that’s exactly what the Pelicans have been signaling. While the Pelicans may be determined to be trade deadline buyers, it feels like an inevitability that the organization will simultaneously be moving on from Brandon Ingram.
A former All-Star and gifted three-level scorer, Ingram would certainly help give a boost to the Warriors’ 17th ranked offensive rating. In theory, Ingram would immediately slot in as the Warriors’ number two option, and hypothetically be a consistent supplier of 20+ points.
Unfortunately, injuries have rarely left Ingram alone for too long, and his most recent injury definitely complicates things. The Warriors are all but guaranteed to feel hesitant about parting with valuable young players in exchange for a player currently shelved by injury, and in search of a new contract. Additionally, while Ingram’s on-court exploits—as far as numbers are concerned—have always been impressive, his fit with the Warriors is certainly questionable. Ingram’s iso-heavy game is likely to be a less than idyllic fit with the ball-movement dependent offense of the Warriors.
Warriors’ Second-Option: Zach LaVine
Unsurprisingly, the Chicago Bulls are right about where everyone expected. They are below .500, and sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. According to multiple reports however, the Bulls are actively looking to take steps to avoid the continuation of this mediocrity. Players like Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and Ayo Dosunmu could all reportedly be on the move for the right price.
For the Warriors, a healthy LaVine could be an intriguing mid-season add. For some time now, LaVine has been one of the more flammable perimeter weapons in the league with 2.3 three-point makes per game on 38.5% for his career. Additionally, with the space and gravity provided by Curry and the Warriors’ offense, those numbers could even see a decent boost.
Now, LaVine is far from a lockdown defender, and injuries are even more of a concern with him than they are with Ingram. If LaVine’s injuries are truly behind him though—he’s played in 22 of the Bulls’ 25 games this year—and he is willing to commit to playing the best defense of his career, he may be worth a look for Golden State. If the Warriors are earnest in their commitment to doing whatever they can to give Curry a shot at a fifth ring, LaVine is a worthy—albeit risky— option as a co-star.
Warriors’ First-Option: Jimmy Butler
The Heat have been sending mixed signals about Jimmy Butler for sometime now. And while a record of 12-10 would indicate they should prioritize their youth over feeble attempts at contention, recent memories of two Butler-led trips to the Finals persist. No one really knows whether the Heat are really ready to move on from Butler or not, but if they are, the Warriors should be ready to pounce.
You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Yes, Butler is aging. Yes, Butler is injury-prone. And yes, Butler is in search of a new contract starting in 2025-26. It’s time for the Warriors to throw caution to the wind. If the Warriors are really about what they say, they cannot afford to sit on the sidelines any longer. Butler certainly isn’t without his warts, but of the players expected to be available come trade season, he is the only one with a demonstrated ability to put his team on his back and win multiple playoff series. Barring anything drastic happening between now and the trade deadline, Butler should be the Warriors’ number one trade target.
