Mike Dunleavy Jr. Discussed Warriors Trade Deadline Strategy

The Golden State Warriors' number one trade deadline priority was to find Jonathan Kuminga a new home. That may have changed with the recent injury of Jimmy Butler. With Butler out for the rest of the season, the Warriors might need Kuminga to stick around. 

Could the Warriors pivot to trading Butler instead of Kuminga before the deadline?

Warriors’ General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. was asked how Butler’s injury might impact the Warriors' moves before this trade deadline. 

"Tough to say. Our team's in a different spot today than it was this time yesterday. So, it will in some way, but I think it just always comes down simply to making good decisions, and that'll be the same here. Maybe the parameters have changed, maybe the goalposts have moved a little bit, but we believe in making good, sound decisions, and we'll do that, whether it's something big, small, whatever. The main thing is we do the right thing… I'd say what I envision for him is kind of giving us a boost next year, the same way he did last year when he arrived."

Dunleavy is currently saying that the Warriors won’t rush to get rid of Butler just because he is injured. He’s still admitting that things have changed now that Butler is out.

Even though it might not be the move he wants to make, the Warriors are definitely going to consider trading Butler. They can try to salvage this season and next if they can find a buyer for Butler. If they can’t, Dunleavy has his work cut out for him; the Warriors are going to have a tough time competing without turning Butler into someone who can help their team this season.