The Golden State Warriors have gotten off to a choopier-than-expected 16-15 start on their 2025-26 NBA season.
Although they’re armed with three future Hall of Famers still producing at a high level in 11-time All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry, six-time All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler, and 10-time All-Defensive Team forward Draymond Green all still producing at a high level, the Warriors have discovered that they are not among the Western Conference’s elite.
More news: Bulls Legend Horace Grant Sends Clear Message on Chicago’s Recent Struggles
Per Chris Haynes of Prime Video (via Underdog NBA), Golden State is eyeing a risky, massive trade for a fourth Hall of Famer in his 30s still producing at a high level: 10-time All-Star Dallas Mavericks power forward/center Anthony Davis.
“Today I found something very interesting. I came on last week and I told you what the Warriors are looking for: they’re looking for a big man, rim-running big man [who can] protect the paint, lob threat. I was told [the Warriors] are contemplating making a case to acquire Anthony Davis,” Haynes said. “And so, with that being said, I was told that Dallas is not that fascinated with what Golden State has on its books. If the Golden State Warriors want to make a true play at Anthony Davis, they would likely have to acquire some more assets or involve another team.
“With that being said, the Warriors are really trying to figure out ways to assure themselves that they have a defensive, dominant starting center to help Stephen Curry and Draymond Green out for a championship push.”
It’s fascinating to hear Haynes exclude Butler’s name here. After all, at this stage in their respective trajectories, Butler is by far the superior player to a declining Green who is now an offensive liability. Butler’s $54.1 million salary happens to line up exactly with Davis’ contract.
The 6-foot-10 big man, 32, now seemingly gets hurt every other game — including Thursday’s Christmas Day loss against Golden State, in fact, which he departed with right groin spasms — but when Davis is available, he’s a formidable two-way frontcourt force.
Through his 16 healthy games for the 12-20 Mavericks, the Kentucky product has been averaging 20.5 points on 52.1 percent shooting from the field and 71 percent from the foul line, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals a night. In Dallas, he seems to have slightly recovered his downhill scoring aptitude, and has become a major threat finishing around the rim. If there’s a way for the Warriors to hold on to Butler in a Davis deal, it would behoove Golden State.
More news: Chicago Bulls All-Star Reveals Wild Phil Jackson Coaching Decision
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
