The Golden State Warriors are running out of margin for error as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches and the noise around a familiar name is growing louder.
With Jimmy Butler sidelined for the season after suffering a torn ACL, Golden State’s championship blueprint with Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green has collapsed. Now, the Warriors are under real pressure to stabilize the roster and remain competitive in the Western Conference.
One solution being discussed around the league feels almost poetic.
A Familiar Name Emerges on the Market
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, league personnel have begun connecting the Warriors to wings who can immediately plug into Steve Kerr’s system, including former 2022 NBA Finals hero Andrew Wiggins.
“League personnel are linking wings and forwards like Andrew Wiggins and DeMar DeRozan to the Warriors,” Siegel reported. “This is the area in which the Warriors are said to be evaluating the trade market, as the possibility of adding a notable frontcourt talent isn’t viewed as a priority over addressing the forward positions.”
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Wiggins’ recent return to Chase Center, now in a Miami Heat uniform, only added fuel to the speculation. The moment was emotional, but also revealing. Wiggins was productive, defended Butler for much of the night, and looked comfortable doing the very things Golden State has struggled to replace since moving on from him.
It also helps that recent comments from both Wiggins and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, that no love has been lost between two. Given the relationship issues between Kerr and Jonathan Kuminga, bringing in a familiar face with good rapport may be just he calming force this team needs right now.
Why a Wiggins Reunion Makes Sense
Siegel also acknowledged the intrigue of a reunion, while also noting the financial hurdles.
“A potential Wiggins return would be quite the story that is interesting to discuss as a hypothetical trade scenario,” Siegel wrote. “But that too would result in parting with Moody, Hield, or someone else for salary-matching purposes.”
From a basketball standpoint, the logic is clean. Even in what many would consider to be a down year for Wiggins, he is still managing to average 15.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, a steal and a block per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc. With the ability to guard on the perimeter at a high level paired with his familiarity with the Warriors system, he is a bit of a no-brainer fit as a plug-and-play replacement for Jimmy Butler.
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He’s also on an expiring $28 million deal with a $30 million player option next season, flexibility that matters for a team trying to thread the needle between contention and long-term viability.
The Warriors’ front office is still searching for what Siegel described as a “substantial move,” but the path forward is narrowing. With Butler gone and playoff urgency rising, sentiment around the league suggests Golden State may ultimately turn backward to move forward.
A Wiggins return wouldn’t just be nostalgic. It might be the most realistic way for the Warriors to stay afloat and relevant in a suddenly unforgiving season.
