As the Golden State Warriors approach the 2025 offseason, the clock is ticking on Stephen Curry’s prime at age 37, with the franchise determined to maximize their championship aspirations. After a 2024-25 season that saw them reach the Western Conference Semifinals but fall short against Dallas, the Warriors are exploring bold roster moves to keep pace in a stacked West. A recent three-team trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, involving the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets, suggests trading young forward Jonathan Kuminga for Lonzo Ball, Jalen Smith, Josh Okogie, and multiple draft picks. With Curry and Jimmy Butler III sharing laughs on the court, as captured during a game against Sacramento, the Warriors’ front office faces a high-stakes decision. Can this risky trade extend Golden State’s dynasty, or will it jeopardize their future? Let’s break down the proposal, its implications, and what it means for Curry’s Warriors. (Disclaimer: This analysis is based on speculative reports and is not confirmed. Readers should await official updates as the offseason unfolds.)
The Proposed Three-Team Trade: A Breakdown
Eric Pincus’s trade proposal, outlined on June 20, 2025, involves the Warriors, Bulls, and Hornets reshaping their rosters to address immediate and long-term needs. Here’s how it works:
Chicago Bulls Receive: Jonathan Kuminga (from Warriors)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Lonzo Ball (from Bulls), Jalen Smith (from Bulls), Josh Okogie (from Hornets), 2026 Portland Trail Blazers protected first-round pick (from Bulls), 2029 second-round pick (from Hornets), 2029 Denver Nuggets second-round pick (from Hornets), 2031 second-round pick (from Hornets), 2031 Phoenix Suns second-round pick (from Hornets)
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Moses Moody (from Warriors), Jevon Carter (from Bulls)
For Golden State, the trade centers on acquiring Lonzo Ball, a 27-year-old playmaker with a skill set tailored to their system, alongside Jalen Smith, a 25-year-old stretch big, and Josh Okogie, a 26-year-old defensive wing. The influx of draft picks—most notably a 2026 first-rounder—replenishes assets depleted by years of win-now trades. Chicago gains Kuminga, a 22-year-old athletic forward with star potential, to build around Coby White, while Charlotte adds Moody, a 23-year-old shooter, and Carter, a veteran guard, to bolster their young core.
Why the Warriors Would Consider This Trade
The Warriors’ motivation stems from maximizing Curry’s elite shooting (27.8 points, 41.2% from three in 2024-25) and Butler’s two-way dominance (22.9 points, 5.3 assists). Lonzo Ball, despite not playing since January 2022 due to knee injuries, offers a tantalizing fit. As Pincus notes, “Ball is an incredible fit alongside the Warriors’ stars. He plays defense, moves the ball, and can catch-and-shoot.” Ball’s pre-injury stats (13.0 points, 5.1 assists, 42.3% from three in 2021-22) suggest he could orchestrate Golden State’s motion offense, easing Curry’s playmaking burden. His defensive instincts (1.8 steals per game) align with coach Steve Kerr’s emphasis on versatility.
Jalen Smith, a 6’10” forward who shot 42.4% from three with Indiana in 2022-23, adds frontcourt depth behind Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Smith’s mobility and shooting (8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds in 2024-25) address Golden State’s need for a stretch big, especially with Kevon Looney’s role diminishing. Josh Okogie, turning 27 before 2025-26, brings tenacious perimeter defense (1.1 steals per game career average) and playoff experience from Phoenix. The draft picks, while mostly second-rounders, offer flexibility for future trades or cheap rookie contracts, critical for a team with a $178 million payroll.
Key Benefits for Golden State
Low-Risk, High-Reward Players: Ball, Smith, and Okogie are on team-friendly deals (Ball at $20.4 million, Smith at $5.4 million, Okogie at $2.9 million), minimizing financial risk if they underperform. Ball’s upside as a facilitator, Smith’s shooting, and Okogie’s defense could elevate Golden State’s bench, which ranked 18th in scoring (38.2 points per game) in 2024-25.
Draft Capital: The 2026 first-round pick and four second-rounders replenish Golden State’s assets, depleted by trades for Kevin Durant and Butler. This flexibility aids long-term planning as Curry and Green age.
Roster Balance: Smith bolsters the frontcourt, Okogie strengthens wing defense, and Ball (if healthy) adds playmaking, addressing weaknesses exposed in the 2025 playoffs, where Golden State struggled with bench production and size.
Potential Risks and Concerns
The trade’s allure comes with significant caveats:
Lonzo Ball’s Health: Ball’s absence since January 2022 due to multiple knee surgeries makes him a massive gamble. His $20.4 million salary for 2025-26 is a sunk cost if he can’t return to form, and recent reports suggest cautious optimism but no guarantees. Without Ball, the trade loses its centerpiece.
Losing Young Talent: Kuminga, averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in 2024-25, flashed All-Star potential at 22. His athleticism and defensive versatility (0.7 steals, 0.5 blocks) are hard to replace, and trading him for injury-prone players risks stunting Golden State’s future. Moody, a reliable shooter (36.0% from three), is also a loss.
Limited Immediate Impact: If Ball remains sidelined or Smith and Okogie fail to integrate, the trade could weaken Golden State’s depth, critical in a West led by Denver, Dallas, and Houston. The draft picks, mostly late second-rounders, offer minimal short-term help.
The trade is a calculated risk, betting on Ball’s revival and the supporting pieces’ fit while sacrificing Kuminga’s upside. For a team in win-now mode, it’s a high-stakes move that could either extend Curry’s title window or haunt the Warriors if it flops.
The Warriors’ Offseason Context
Golden State’s 46-36 record in 2024-25 secured a No. 6 seed, but their playoff exit highlighted roster flaws: inconsistent bench scoring, limited size, and over-reliance on Curry and Butler. With Curry’s $55.8 million salary and Butler’s $48.8 million deal anchoring a payroll above the second apron, GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. faces cap constraints. The Warriors’ No. 22 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, likely a role player like Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II, won’t address immediate needs. Free agency is limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.7 million), targeting veterans like Kyle Anderson. Trading Kuminga, a restricted free agent in 2026, aligns with Golden State’s history of bold moves (e.g., trading Jordan Poole for Chris Paul), but the fanbase is split, with X posts like “Kuminga for Ball? Too risky!” clashing with “Lonzo in Kerr’s system would be fire!”
Chicago and Charlotte’s Perspectives
For Chicago, Kuminga is a coup, pairing his athleticism with Coby White to accelerate their rebuild after a 39-43 season. The Bulls, retaining White over a similar Orlando offer, see Kuminga as a two-way star to replace Zach LaVine if traded. Charlotte, mired in a 21-61 season, gains Moody’s shooting (8.1 points, 36.0% from three) and Carter’s veteran presence to mentor LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Both teams shed salary—Ball and Smith for Chicago, Okogie for Charlotte—while acquiring young talent, making the trade appealing despite losing draft capital.
The NBA’s Broader Implications
The proposed trade reflects the NBA’s cutthroat nature, where contenders like Golden State take risks to stay elite. The West remains brutal, with Denver (Nikola Jokić), Dallas (Luka Dončić), and Houston (Kevin Durant) looming. The East’s weakness, due to injuries to Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard, offers a Finals path, but Golden State must first navigate their conference. If Ball returns to form, he could spark trade talks league-wide, with teams like the Clippers or Heat eyeing similar high-upside gambles. On X, fans speculate wildly, with posts like “Warriors trading Kuminga? They’re all-in for Steph!” and “Lonzo Ball comeback szn!” fueling buzz.
Stephen Curry’s Legacy and the Warriors’ Window
At 37, Curry remains a top-10 player, but his championship window is narrowing. His synergy with Butler, evident in their on-court camaraderie against Sacramento, drives Golden State’s urgency. A successful trade could mirror the 2022 title run, when role players like Gary Payton II clicked. However, a failed gamble risks wasting Curry’s twilight years, especially with Green (35) and Butler (36) aging. The Warriors’ dynasty, with four titles since 2015, hinges on Dunleavy’s ability to thread the needle—balancing win-now moves with future stability. Trading Kuminga for Ball is a microcosm of this dilemma: short-term upside versus long-term potential.
Golden State’s Path Forward
If the trade goes through, Kerr must integrate Ball’s playmaking, Smith’s shooting, and Okogie’s defense into a system that ranked fifth in offensive rating (117.8) but 14th in defensive rating (113.2) in 2024-25. Without Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins and Jackson-Davis must step up, while Buddy Hield (acquired in 2024) provides spacing. If the trade stalls, Golden State may pivot to smaller deals, like trading Dennis Schröder or using their draft pick to move Looney’s $8 million deal. Either way, the Warriors’ offseason will shape their 2025-26 campaign, with a top-four seed and deep playoff run as the goal.
The Golden State Warriors’ 2025 offseason is a high-stakes gamble to keep Stephen Curry’s championship dreams alive. The proposed three-team trade—sending Jonathan Kuminga for Lonzo Ball, Jalen Smith, Josh Okogie, and draft picks—offers a low-risk, high-reward path but hinges on Ball’s uncertain health. With Curry and Jimmy Butler leading the charge, Golden State’s front office must weigh sacrificing young talent against bolstering their win-now roster. As the NBA landscape shifts, this move could redefine the Warriors’ dynasty or become a costly misstep. What do you think: should Golden State pull the trigger, or hold onto Kuminga for the future?