As the Golden State Warriors have struggled recently, losing 17 of their last 24 games and dropping to 12th in the Western Conference, the team approaches the NBA trade deadline scheduled for February 6 with critical decisions to make. Stephen Curry emphasized the importance of not engaging in 'desperate trades' that could undermine the long-term health of the franchise, stating, 'Desperate trades or desperate moves that deplete the future... means there's a responsibility to keep the franchise in a good space for the future.'

Curry's remarks followed a narrow 104-101 defeat to the Toronto Raptors, a team that has been performing poorly, holding the fourth-worst record in the league at 9-31. This loss adds urgency to the Warriors' situation, particularly as speculation grows surrounding prominent trade candidates like Jimmy Butler. However, reports indicate that the Warriors are not expected to aggressively pursue the six-time All-Star due to concerns over his age, injury history, and contract status. As noted by The Athletic's Anthony Slater, Marcus Thompson II, and Sam Amick, the Warriors do not view themselves as a 'viable option' for Butler, given the complexities of salary matching required to facilitate such a trade.

Currently hard-capped at the first apron of $178.1 million, the Warriors would need to match Butler's significant $48.8 million salary, which would likely mean parting ways with either Andrew Wiggins or Draymond Green. With Green being a franchise icon, his trade seems improbable, while Wiggins, who experienced a productive season averaging 16.5 points and shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc, is viewed as too valuable to trade away for a player earning nearly double his salary. This situation is further complicated by the fact that both Curry and Green emphasize maintaining the team's long-term viability during a challenging stretch. Green highlighted the consensus among the leadership trio of himself, Curry, and head coach Steve Kerr that they will not 'mortgage off the future' for any short-term gain, stating, 'Bad teams do that. Bad organizations do that. We're not neither one.'

While the immediate focus is on the current season's challenges, the Warriors also appear to have one eye on potential offseason improvements. They were reportedly close to finalizing a deal for Paul George last summer, demonstrating their ambition to enhance their roster. As the team looks ahead, they are projected to be approximately $49 million under the tax line for the upcoming season, with key players Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody eligible for restricted free agency. Potential free agents this summer include high-profile names such as Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle. Although James remains with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Warriors reportedly hope to at least spark his interest in playing for them. Irving seems to be satisfied with the Dallas Mavericks, yet his history of changing teams raises the prospect of a shift. Ingram, facing uncertainty with the New Orleans Pelicans, could ultimately become a free agent without a player option on his contract. The Warriors, however, must prioritize addressing their immediate performance issues, having fallen below .500 at a record of 19-20 after a strong start of 12-3. Currently, only the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, and New Orleans Pelicans are positioned below them in the Western Conference standings.