‘Fading Dynasty’ Warriors at Crossroads After Butler Tears ACL

Is the Warriors dynasty officially on life support? 

On Sunday, the team lost costar Jimmy Butler to a right ACL tear in a win over the Heat team that traded Butler to Golden State a year ago. 

Butler’s injury came amid a stretch in which the team has won 12 of its past 16 games, which has vaulted the Warriors into eighth place in the Western Conference standings after a 13–15 start. 

But with Butler lost for the season, what now? 

While Steph Curry turns 38 in March, he remains an incredible player. He’s averaging 27.4 points per game—11th in the NBA—while shooting 47% from the field and 39% from three-point territory. The Warriors lost to the Timberwolves in five games in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, but it was after Curry went down with a hamstring injury in Game 1. 

After years in contention and four titles, the Warriors are at a crossroads as an organization. Do they try to contend with the remaining pieces they have or make one more before the Feb. 5 trade deadline? 

The current roster around Curry is not good enough for a deep playoff run. But his ability to fend off Father Time raises the conversation that the team should keep trying to win one more title with him. 

Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s 23-year-old former top-10 pick, has already requested a trade out of the organization after years of being in and out of Steve Kerr’s good graces. 

In December, Kerr called his team a “fading dynasty,” acknowledging the ages of his franchise pillars in Curry (37), Butler (36), and Draymond Green (35). 

“We are no longer the ‘17 Warriors, dominating the league,” Kerr said then. “Everyone knows that. So what is up to us? How do we carry ourselves night to night? How connected are we? And can we give ourselves another swing at the plate?

“We did that last year, I was really proud of the team last year,” Kerr added. “Despite the loss to Minnesota, injury to Steph. Who knows how long we would’ve gone? But we gave ourselves a chance. That’s the goal here.”

Kuminga’s trade appeal has been limited, partially due to his lack of playing time and the Warriors’ insistence on getting a good return for him despite that. 

“I think he’s stuck there,” a team executive told Front Office Sports before Butler’s injury. “They’re doing nothing to raise his value by not playing him.” 

Does Butler’s injury change that? Would getting Kuminga back on the floor raise his trade appeal?

Kerr was asked after Monday’s game whether Kuminga could take Butler’s spot in the rotation. 

“Sure, absolutely,” Kerr told reporters. 

Trading Kuminga could become more of a priority for the Warriors now that Butler is lost for the season. What about Butler? Would the Warriors move on from him so quickly to bring in another star? Or run it back with him next season when he’ll be 38, and coming off knee surgery? 

The Warriors have been linked to Nets star Michael Porter Jr., who could help replace Butler’s offensive production, but the two teams had not talked about a possible deal as of Monday, sources told FOS. Would the Nets trade for an injured Butler, who is owed almost $57 million next season? 

Since 2018, Butler has torn the meniscus in his right knee and sprained his MCL in it two years ago before Monday’s ACL tear. ESPN reported Butler’s recovery timeline is “the next calendar year,” which makes him unlikely to be available for the start of next season or be the same player when he comes back. Butler’s age, salary, and injury history now make his contract—which has one year remaining—one of the least desirable in the league. 

What about the Jazz, who have a top-eight protected pick this year? Would the Warriors reengage Utah on Lauri Markkanen after the sides discussed a deal in 2024?

And where does Giannis Antetokounmpo fall into all of this? He claims he won’t ask for a trade out of Milwaukee, despite reports suggesting otherwise. Does Butler’s injury or the struggling Knicks change his situation? 

The first domino to fall will be Tuesday night, when the Warriors host the Raptors a day after losing Butler. Does Kuminga play in his first game in a month? Or does the “fading dynasty” move forward with an injured Butler and a disgruntled Kuminga?