The Golden State Warriors were met with shock on Monday after star player Jimmy Butler III suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Butler picked up the injury in the team’s 135-112 win against the Miami Heat.
The Warriors traded Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III and a protected 2025 first-round pick to acquire the six-time All-Star in February 2025.
He has played 67 games for the Dubs since last season, averaging 19.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. The team will sorely miss his production while he recovers. But the Warriors aren’t expected to sit back and wait.
Since the summer, the team has been expected to shop Jonathan Kuminga, and with Butler out, reinforcements for the lineup are more important than ever.
As such, let’s take a look at three trades that the Warriors should make following Butler’s ACL injury.
3 Trades the Warriors should make after losing Jimmy Butler
1) Michael Porter Jr.
Reports have linked Michael Porter Jr. to the Golden State Warriors recently. Porter Jr. has been on a roll since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets this summer.
He is averaging 25.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, shooting 48.7%. Porter Jr. has championship experience from his time with the Denver Nuggets and can be a solid option next to Steph Curry.
If the forward can replicate his impact with Golden State, the Warriors could still contend in the Western Conference.
2) Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen is a volume 3-point shooter and stands tall at 7-foot-1. Moreover, he is having a career year with the Jazz this season, averaging 27.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, shooting 48.3%, including 36.5% from 3-point range.
A trade for the Jazz forward would fix the gaping hole left from Butler’s injury and would also go a long way toward helping Golden State with its size issue.
But it remains to be seen whether the Dubs have the assets to make this trade possible.
3) Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis has been one of the league’s best rebounders over the last few seasons. He is averaging 16.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game for the Sacramento Kings.
While he is struggling from range this season, he shoots 34.3% from beyond the arc for his career.
Acquiring Sabonis will give the Warriors some much-needed relief at the center position, balancing out the team’s rotation.
Moreover, the Kings have expressed interest in Jonathan Kuminga, so a path for Sabonis’ arrival in the Bay may exist.
Read More: How Long Is Jimmy Butler Out For? Return Timeline, Recovery and More on ACL Injuries
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