The Golden State Warriors have had an up-and-down campaign so far, but earlier this week received devastating news. Jimmy Butler tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season, leaving the Warriors with a huge hole to fill on the wing.
Golden State acquired Butler to give them another on-ball creator next to Stephen Curry and he had opened up the floor for their offense as a result. Defensively, he and Draymond Green have formed one of the tougher defensive pairings in basketball.
Now that they won’t have Butler until 2027, the Warriors need a solution. With the trade deadline coming up, time is running out on them being able to save their season. However, there is one move out there that they could make.
Golden State should see what it would take to acquire Anthony Davis from Dallas
It has been reported that Davis’ agent Rich Paul has made it very clear to the Mavericks that he would like his client to be traded at the trade deadline. Davis wants to compete for a championship and also ink an extension with his new team. With Dallas likely heading towards a rebuild with Cooper Flagg, it doesn’t look like Davis will get his wishes with them.
Davis did recently have surgery on his left hand and is set to miss at least the next six weeks. He is targeting a return closer to the playoffs, so he would be available for the Warriors down the stretch of the season.
When he is on the court, Davis is still a productive player on both ends. He is good for 20 points and 10 rebounds on a nightly basis, and would give Golden State a two-way paint presence they have not really had in the Curry era.
He would fit their defensive scheme perfectly thanks to his switchability and rim protection, and he can crash the offensive glass and create more kick-out opportunities for Curry. The fit is there.
It has been rumored that the Warriors could use Butler’s contract to facilitate trades and with them owning their draft picks until 2030, they could sweeten the pot with that. The Mavericks do not own their first round pick after this season, so acquiring draft capital for Davis could be a priority for them.
Davis’ injury history makes this a risk for Golden State, and inking him to a big-money extension could be a tough pill to swallow. However, what choice do they have? They have to maximize the window they have with Curry and simply have to try something to salvage what is left of their season.