Warriors offseason outlook: What’s next for Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler after second-round exit?

While the Warriors’ big swing to acquire Jimmy Butler III ahead of the deadline paid off almost immediately, an injury to Stephen Curry was a reminder of just how quickly a playoff run can go awry.

Golden State surged into the playoffs as an atypical 7-seed, outclassing the up-and-coming Rockets in the opening round to set up a date with the Timberwolves. About 15 minutes into the second round, however, Curry suffered a strained hamstring that ultimately resulted in the Warriors getting eliminated in five games.

Now, the focus shifts to how the team can improve in the offseason.

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Given the team’s success after acquiring Butler, there will be an inclination to run things back, but the impending free agency of Jonathan Kuminga likely will result in at least one change to come during this offseason.

Here’s what else could come of the upcoming period.

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Warriors offseason outlook

The Warriors aren’t exactly a young team, but their ambitions of a two-timeline approach again failed to be realized once Curry tweaked his hamstring to open the Western Conference semifinals.

In Curry’s absence, the 35-year-old duo of Butler and Green did what it could, but none of Golden State’s younger crop of talent was capable of stepping up enough to steal one game and allow Curry to return to the series.

To be clear, it’s not the fault of Kuminga, Moses Moody, or Brandin Podziemski, but Warriors brass long believed it could develop the next generation of stars while enjoying the last of Curry’s prime.

MORE: What happens with Jonathan Kuminga? Predicting free agency, sign-and-trade possibilities

Now, everyone will be one year older, and Golden State’s roster outside of its aging core remains flawed.

There is a big need at the center position, and ESPN’s Bobby Marks has floated the idea of a fit with Bucks free agent Brook Lopez. While Lopez would be a great scheme fit, he, too, recently celebrated a 37th birthday.

Butler, who will turn 36 before next season, doesn’t seem too fazed by his team’s age, saying, “If we win some [the two-year window] could be longer than that. Because I still think we have a lot of great basketball ahead of us.

“I don’t think this age thing is anything with the way we take care of our bodies.”

Be that as it may, the Warriors cannot teeter on both sides — they either need to go all-in on win-now players regardless of age or focus fully on the future with younger pieces capable of ushering in a new era of basketball in the Bay.

In the years since Golden State’s improbable 2022 title, it has tried to do both, but it has not worked. With Curry still playing at an all-world level, it would behoove the Warriors to do whatever it takes to capitalize.

Here are the parameters there:

Warriors free agents

The Warriors have several free agents this season, with the decisions of Kuminga, Kevon Looney, and Gary Payton II looming particularly large.

Kuminga seems to have played his last game in a Warriors uniform and could net value in return as an unrestricted free agent, but Looney and Payton are both integral parts of the identity the Warriors live by. Neither player would be particularly easy to replace.

• Braxton Key (Unrestricted)
• Kevin Knox II (Unrestricted)
• Jonathan Kuminga (Restricted)
• Kevon Looney (Unrestricted)
• Gary Payton II (Unrestricted)
• Pat Spencer (Restricted)
• Taran Armstrong (Restricted/Two-Way)

Warriors’ future draft picks, explained

Golden State has parted ways with plenty of draft capital, including this year’s No. 20 pick, which is being sent to Miami. Otherwise, the Warriors’ future first-round picks are currently under their control, but they do not control their own second-round pick until 2030.

• 2025: Heat second-round pick (41st overall)
• 2026: Own first-round pick
• 2027: Own first-round pick
• 2028: Own first-round pick
• 2029: Own first-round pick
• 2030: Own second-round pick
• 2031: Own first-round pick

Warriors 2025-26 roster, contracts

Golden State could go into 2025-26 with as few as six players from the past season, as it will have to decide whether to exercise player options for Gui Santos and Quinten Post while Trayce Jackson-Davis’ $2.2 million salary for the upcoming season is not guaranteed.

The core remains intact, as Curry, Butler, and Green are each under contract through the 2026-27 season.

All figures via Spotrac.