The Golden State Warriors find themselves at a crossroads as the 2025 NBA trade deadline approaches. After a blistering 12-3 start to the season, the Dubs have stumbled to a 19-20 record, becoming the first team in league history to begin 12-3 or better only to fall below .500 later in the year. As Stephen Curry’s championship window inches closer to shutting, the Warriors are facing tough questions about whether this roster, as currently constructed, has what it takes to reclaim the NBA mountaintop.
Curry’s Quest for One Last Ring
For Curry, now 36 years old, the urgency to maximize his remaining prime years is palpable. The two-time MVP and four-time champion has already cemented his legacy as an all-time great, but the competitor in him still hungers for a fifth ring. “I feel like we have the roster to [win], and you have Steph Curry,” teammate Andrew Wiggins said after a recent win over the Timberwolves.
But Curry can’t carry the load alone, not at this stage of his illustrious career. His 23.0 points per game and 31.8 minutes per night are his lowest averages since an injury-marred 2019-20 season. The Warriors will need their supporting cast, both the grizzled veterans and the unproven youngsters, to rise to the occasion if they hope to make one last championship push.
Green & Kerr Preach Patience
For their part, coach Steve Kerr and vocal leader Draymond Green have consistently advocated for staying the course. In a league where knee-jerk reactions and rash roster moves are the norm, the Warriors brain trust is preaching patience.
“Can’t panic. Not in this league. Panic in this league, you win 25 games for five straight years.”
Draymond Green
Kerr and Green, along with general manager Mike Dunleavy, have engaged in frequent discussions about the team’s present and future. While they acknowledge the need to put the best possible team around Curry, they’re wary of mortgaging the future for a shortsighted win-now move.
The Next Generation
Central to the Warriors’ hopes, both now and in the years to come, is the development of their trio of recent lottery picks: Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Brandin Podziemski. The talented but raw youngsters have shown flashes of promise, but their growing pains have been evident as well.
- Kuminga’s athleticism and potential as a two-way force
- Podziemski’s sweet shooting stroke and passing instincts
- Moody’s 3-and-D skill set, tailor-made for the Warriors’ system
But can the Warriors afford to let their prized prospects learn on the job, even as Curry’s championship clock ticks ever louder? It’s a delicate balance, one that the front office will have to weigh carefully as the Feb. 6 trade deadline draws near.
To Deal or Not to Deal?
The Warriors do possess some intriguing trade chips should they choose to swing a deal. Andrew Wiggins’ expiring $26 million contract could be a valuable salary-matching tool, while some combination of the youngsters and future draft capital could entice a seller at the deadline.
One name to watch is Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, a skilled offensive big man and willing passer who could provide Curry with another much-needed release valve. But prying Vucevic away, even as he heads toward free agency, would likely require the Warriors to part with pieces of their young core – a price they may ultimately be unwilling to pay.
“The idea that there’s this magical deal that can solve everything is what it is. If there’s an opportunity to get better and take a step in the right direction with the move that makes sense for the team, then we need to do it. If not, then you address that.”
Stephen Curry
Betting on a Proven Formula
Still, for all their recent stumbles, the Warriors remain confident that their championship DNA will shine through when it matters most. They’ve been here before, after all – left for dead in 2021-22 before surging to their fourth title in eight years.
And in Curry, they still possess the ultimate trump card: a transformative superstar capable of willing his team to improbable heights. Flanked by savvy, battle-tested veterans like Green and Klay Thompson, with breakout candidates like Kuminga and Podziemski providing a jolt of youthful energy, the Warriors believe they have the right mixture of talent and experience to make one last championship charge.
With the trade deadline fast approaching and their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Warriors’ resolve will be put to the ultimate test. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned over this dynastic run, it’s to never count out Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Their championship window may be closing, but they’re determined to pry it open for one last glorious ride into the sunset.
