Jimmy Butler's torn ACL has derailed the Golden State Warriors' season, leaving them to reassess their path forward just two weeks before the NBA trade deadline. The injury occurred during a game against the Toronto Raptors, resulting in an 18-point home loss where Toronto scored 145 points. With Butler sidelined, the Warriors must navigate a challenging Western Conference landscape without their second-best player.
The Golden State Warriors' season took a devastating turn on Monday night when Jimmy Butler suffered a torn ACL in their knee during a home game against the Toronto Raptors. The injury happened as Butler's knee bent at an unnatural angle, sidelining the All-Star forward for the remainder of the 2025-26 season and potentially impacting the next few years. In the Warriors' first full game without him, they fell 18 points short at home, with Toronto erupting for 145 points. Even before the injury, Golden State was clinging to the No. 8 seed in the West and not considered true championship contenders.
The $54.1 million in salary Butler commands this year now sits unused on the books, with a significant portion of next year's $56.8 million likely wasted as well. Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy addressed the fallout, noting the team was playing well (7-2 in recent games) before the injury threw plans into disarray. "I thought our team was playing really well, heading in the right direction, obviously things have changed," Dunleavy said. He plans to assess the roster over the next two weeks ahead of the February 5 deadline.
The injury has amplified trade discussions, particularly around Jonathan Kuminga, who demanded a trade after becoming eligible on January 15. Kuminga returned to the rotation against Toronto, scoring 20 points in 21 minutes off the bench. Owner Joe Lacob's enthusiastic courtside reactions to Kuminga's plays drew league-wide attention, with one NBA source telling Tim Kawakami, "Everybody in the league saw that." Dunleavy responded bluntly to Kuminga's demand: "When you make a demand there needs to be demand -- on the market."
Speculation abounds on potential moves, from swapping Butler for players like Zach LaVine or Anthony Davis to more outlandish ideas involving LeBron James or Joel Embiid. However, reports indicate the Warriors are wary of adding long-term salary. ESPN's power rankings highlight the uncertainty: "Every level of the organization was reeling... This was a franchise-altering injury." With Stephen Curry's championship window narrowing, Golden State faces tough choices to salvage contention or pivot toward rebuilding.
