After Golden State’s loss to the Suns 111-96 in the play-in, the Warriors dynasty 100% ending now. Or is it? Can the Warriors return to the finals while fighting the mighty west? Maybe, but it won’t be easy. Here are what they must to in the off-season.
The custom trade sends Jimmy Butler away to successfully break his massive contract into four highly functional, team-friendly assets. By bringing in Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed, Golden State secures the rugged, physical interior defense needed to take the regular-season toll off Draymond Green. Perimeter depth receives an immediate upgrade as Caris LeVert steps in as a dynamic secondary playmaker, while Marcus Sasser locks down the backup point guard minutes. This influx of multi-positional depth allows head coach Steve Kerr to deploy a highly balanced and competitive 10-man rotation around Stephen Curry. Financially, splitting Butler's bloated salary provides the front office with manageable, flexible contracts that help navigate strict luxury tax limitations. Finally, the inclusion of two future draft picks hands the front office the premium trade chips required to make further roster upgrades down the line.
The front office creates crucial financial breathing room by executing the strategic cuts of both Gui Santos and De'Anthony Melton. Waiving Santos before his contract guarantees clears $4.6 million in salary and removes a wing player made completely redundant by the arrivals of Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser. Meanwhile, parting ways with Melton allows the medical and training staff to move past his extensive back and ACL injury history. Clearing both guards off the books officially opens up two standard roster spots for cheap, high-upside rookie talent or veteran-minimum contracts. Most importantly, eliminating these combined salaries helps the team successfully dodge severe repeater luxury tax penalties under the strict collective bargaining rules.
The signings of Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, and John Collins completely weaponise the Golden State Warriors' offense around Stephen Curry. By securing Tyler Herro on a three-year deal, the front office adds an elite, multi-level shot creator to serve as a dynamic secondary playmaker. Norman Powell’s three-year contract injects proven championship pedigree, efficient catch-and-shoot perimeter spacing, and physical point-of-attack wing defense. Up front, John Collins signs for two years to provide a highly athletic, vertical lob threat who can also stretch the floor out to the three-point line. These three acquisitions give head coach Steve Kerr an incredibly deep rotation overflowing with proven NBA starters at every single position. The sheer volume of perimeter shooting from Herro and Powell ensures that opposing defenses can no longer aggressively double-team Curry. Additionally, Collins' vertical rolling ability perfectly unlocks Draymond Green’s short-roll passing game to punish collapsing interior defenses. Ultimately, this aggressive spending spree cements the Warriors as the deepest roster in the league and a definitive top-two seed favorite in the Western Conference.
Would this work?