Warriors Predicted to Pursue Superstar Forward in Offseason Trade

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 19: Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors stands on the court during their game against the Miami Heat at Chase Center on January 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Golden State Warriors continue to try to prolong the Steph Curry era. That’s part of the reason why they made the trade for Jimmy Butler last season. Butler was supposed to be the missing piece that helped push them over the edge.

Butler tore his ACL earlier this season, ending any hopes of the Warriors winning a championship this year. Stephen Curry has been injured often this season. He continues to be out due to a knee issue. Without Curry and Butler, the Warriors have slid to ninth in the Western Conference standings.

Next season might be the last chance that the Warriors have a chance to win a title. They are predicted to pursue superstar forward Kawhi Leonard to push them over the edge.

Warriors Predicted to Try to Trade for Kawhi Leonard

According to Bleacher Report, the perfect offseason trade target for Golden State would be Leonard. Here is the full trade scenario:

Golden State Warriors Receive: F Kawhi Leonard

Butler would have to be in the trade in order to match salaries. Podziemski would be the young player that the Clippers need if they are going to pursue a full rebuild. The 2026 first-round pick continues to get more valuable as the season continues to roll along.

If the Clippers decide to pursue a full rebuild, the Warriors could be a team that benefits. Golden State is expected to be very active this offseason when it comes to the trade market. If they can’t land Leonard, they will likely move on to other superstar players that are available.

Golden State Will Pursue All Avenues to Add a Superstar

Golden State will not be shy in trying to add a superstar player in the summer. The core of Curry and Draymond Green continues to age rapidly. Curry is still a very good player when he is healthy, but he is not the gravitational force that he was when the Warriors won their last title.

The Warriors have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well. If they fail to get him, LeBron James isn’t a far-fetched addition. James has a player option for next season, so he could opt out and decide to leave Los Angeles. He would have to take a giant pay cut to join the team, however.

If neither of those players ends up working out, and they can’t get Leonard, the Warriors will have to pivot somewhere else. It would be surprising in league circles if Golden State didn’t pull off some trade for a star player in the summer.

The better that Los Angeles plays, the less chance that Leonard ends up leaving the Clippers. It could also depend on what penalties, if any, come from the Aspiration scandal. The Warriors will try to do anything they can to get one final championship.

Ryan Stano Ryan Stano covers the NBA and College Football for Heavy.com. He has been covering sports since 2017, covering the NFL, College Football, College Basketball, and the NBA. His work has been featured on Yahoo, Bleacher Report, FanSided, and Sports Illustrated. More about Ryan Stano