Warriors Predicted to Trade Kuminga and Keep Butler After ACL Tear

The Golden State Warriors have some tough decisions to make. Before Jimmy Butler went down with a torn ACL, it seemed clear. They needed to get rid of Kuminga and pick up some helpful pieces for Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler to take with them into a playoff run. 

Now, with Butler out, everything changes. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report made some bold predictions for the 2026 NBA trade deadline, and his Warriors prediction had them staying the course with their Kuminga and Butler plans. 

“This situation has become so unsalvageable, especially after Kuminga recently held himself out of a game despite being healthy, that Golden State almost has to move him, regardless of what it gets back.

And that's true even in the wake of devastating news on Jimmy Butler. He's arguably played at a top-10 level this season, and he's a big part of a recent little surge up the standings for the Warriors, but he'll now be out well into next season… Of course, there's a chance the front office could pair Butler's salary with a ton of draft assets for one last Hail Mary trade, but it's hard to find a suitor willing to take on a $50-plus million salary slot for a player who won't be able to get on the floor.

And Dunleavy, in the same press conference, said he anticipates Butler rehabbing for Golden State and returning to the team at some point in 2026–27.”

The Warriors shouldn’t let feelings be the reason they keep Butler. If they can find any sort of helpful return for him, they need to trade him as soon as possible. He isn’t going to play until partway through next season, and the Warriors can’t wait until then for reinforcements.