Since their triumph in the 2022 NBA championship, the Golden State Warriors have been in no man’s land and have outright missed the playoffs twice in the last four seasons.
The Jimmy Butler trade seemed like a glimmer of hope, which did not pan out as smoothly as expected. Now that he is recovering from injury, the hope is that the organization can provide more support for Stephen Curry, potentially through LeBron James.
But alas, it was to no avail.
Stephen Curry Isn’t Finding the Right Help With the Warriors
Two second-round exits and two years where they didn’t reach the playoffs have been the sad end of the Warriors’ dynasty. As the franchise tried to bridge the gap between a new era and the Curry-led championship core, it couldn’t make the most of either.
Now, most of their exciting, young pieces that they were trying to build around are already gone. And, the core is considerably older without any jewelry to show for it. With Butler tearing his ACL in January 2026, the path for Golden State became even harder.
However, the initial summer reporting pegged them as potential landing spots for both Anthony Davis and James. A trade to bring in the superstar big man, while enticing the four-time NBA champion to have a swansong with one of his greatest rivals, was the ultimate pipedream.
But after a nearly month-long deliberation, James chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. And on his own, giving up a huge haul for Davis did not make sense for the Warriors. As a result, they are left without any noticeable upgrades from last season.
With their disastrous offseason now in the rearview mirror, Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic believes the franchise hasn’t done right by its superstar. Instead, he believes it will once again fall to him to keep them relevant in the standings.
“Reality comes with a bill. And Curry, as always, is being asked to pick up the check. It means one more year of him having to carry an offense almost completely reliant on him. One more year of scratching out every win possible while hoping it doesn’t burn him out.”
It isn’t the only time this year that he’s faced such a situation. “That was his fate on Jan. 19, when Butler tore his ACL, then reiterated on March 23, when Moody tore his left patellar tendon.”
After their injuries, a two-time MVP could only hope for the best-case scenario with the injuries. Clearly solemn about what it meant for the rest of the season, even someone with Curry’s pedigree and talent could only hope.
“And you hope that they both come back healthy,” Curry said, “And we can play at a level that keeps us relevant and competitive and builds a foundation so that we can figure out what it looks like. But that is the situation. We don’t live in any alternative universe.”
Unfortunately, it might run even more true right now. As Thompson pointed out, “That might be the most succinct description of these Warriors.”
MORE: ‘Don’t Fall for Distractions’ — NBA Champion Calls Out Zohran Mamdani As ‘a Mayor Playing President’
With no trade for Davis, no James acquisition, the walls are closing in.
Instead, their only tangible moves this summer have been to bring back most of the roster that finished 37-45 last season.
Now, hope is even harder to find for Bay Area fans.
