The Golden State Warriors entered the season carrying the weight of lofty expectations. ESPN shared a bold prediction, believing the Golden State Warriors still had enough championship DNA to rise above the Western Conference.
Early on, that optimism didn’t seem misplaced. Golden State flashed moments of cohesion and confidence. However, as the season progressed, consistency slipped away, and the Warriors started battling through uneven stretches that exposed their flaws more than their strengths.
With the February 15 trade deadline approaching, speculation has intensified around Golden State’s next move. Many fans believe the franchise should go all-in on a superstar acquisition to revive its championship hopes.
However, head coach Steve Kerr recently offered a more cautious perspective while appearing on the Tom Tolbert Show. The head coach made it clear that reckless moves could do more harm than good.
“If there’s something that makes us better—for sure—but all you have to do is look at some of these teams out there that have given up the world for a star player and now they are looking around like the Clippers, no picks. Phoenix, no picks. Milwaukee, no picks,” Kerr said.
Steve Kerr on the risk of Warriors trading all their assets for a superstar player 😳
“All you have to do is look at some of these teams out there that have given up the world for a star player and now they’re looking around like the Clippers, no picks. Phoenix, no picks.… pic.twitter.com/40igbwls7n
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) January 2, 2026
“You can really paint yourselves in a corner if you’re risky and irresponsible. I feel great about having Mike in charge of all of this because he’s sharp and understands all of this.”
On the court, Golden State’s struggles remain evident. The Warriors slipped to No. 8 seed with a 18–17 record. They have yet to find the rhythm needed to rise above the Western Conference pack. Even the veteran trio of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green has been unable to consistently will the team to establish them as a clear postseason threat.
Steve Kerr Gets Candid on Aging Core After Warriors Fall to Thunder
Concerns grew louder after Friday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In his postgame press conference, Kerr delivered one of his most honest evaluations yet.
“The point of where we are with the age of our best players is we can still be good, but we’re obviously not in the same class as we were 5/6 years ago,” Kerr said. “We’re not in the same class as the team we played tonight or as several other teams in the league. There’s no point in denying that. I think we have to embrace it and be realistic and give ourselves a shot.”
Kerr’s team went 5-5 in their last ten games. Hence, rather than deny it, Kerr believes the Warriors must embrace the truth. As the deadline approaches, Golden State’s next decision will remain to be seen.
