With injuries to Jimmy Butler , Moses Moody , and Kristaps Porzingis , the Golden State Warriors have encountered countless setbacks this season . Through it all, they've stayed afloat with heroics from Steph Curry and Yaxel Lendeborg , but there's reason to believe help may be on the way.
Specifically, the Warriors are eyeing next summer as their next opportunity to land a big-name player. According to the latest reporting from Jake Fischer, the Dubs still view themselves as a top destination for stars, and are quietly planning a pursuit of Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic .
"The Warriors are one of those teams out there like, 'Are we sure Jokic isn't going to become available next summer?' They are one of those teams that hopes… 'We could have max cap space, and we have Steph Curry…' There was a quote from someone who's around the building who said that the Warriors still believe they are a destination," said Jake Fischer on SiriusXM . They didn't get Giannis, and Kevin Durant didn't want to go back, but they believe that they will be able to attract, whether it be a trade or on the open market, someone big next summer."
Stephen Curry's rise to power changed everything for the Warriors, turning them from an afterthought in the West into one of the most valuable and lucrative organizations in the league. Their historic success put them on the map in more ways than one, making it easier to lure stars to come play alongside Steph.
Despite their run, however, the Warriors have struck out on several max-level players in recent years , including Kevin Durant , Damian Lillard , Giannis Antetokounmpo , and LeBron James (among others). In the process, they've lost several key pieces of their championship core, ranging from Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins to Jordan Poole .
As it stands, there are major doubts that the Warriors can break the cycle next summer, but they are showing signs of life that could change public perception. Specifically, the combination of Curry and Lendeborg is proof that the Warriors have found something special, and it might only take one star arrival to put them back in the championship picture. More than anyone, their dream target is Nikola Jokic, whose future has fallen under significant doubt .
As much as Jokic has stated his loyalties publicly, one has to wonder how much patience he has left at 31 years old. Since winning the championship in 2023, the Nuggets have fallen on hard times, leading to reports of growing frustrations. Plus, with extension talks delayed, the window is open for Jokic to opt out of his contract and become a free agent in less than 10 months.
So, with the Nuggets off to a rather unimpressive start (4-3 this season), it's no surprise that teams are heavily monitoring his situation. With a hole at the center position, the Warriors seem like an ideal fit for the Joker, and there's no question that he'd drastically raise their ceiling as a regular MVP candidate with averages of 23.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on 50.4% shooting this season.
