Yet, the years since that championship have been difficult for the franchise. Since then, Golden State has won only two playoff series, and last season finished 37-45, placing tenth in the Western Conference before being eliminated in the Play-In tournament. Curry continued to deliver at a high level, averaging 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Jimmy Butler contributed 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists over 38 games before a torn ACL cut his season short. Despite these individual efforts, the collective results did not bend in the team’s favor.
One enduring frustration for Golden State over the past four years is not a lack of effort. The front office has been highly active, engaging with nearly every star available since 2022. They have offered draft picks, dangled expiring contracts, and considered their own young players in trade talks. Still, time and again, the Warriors come close only to watch another team finalize the deal.
Here is a comprehensive look at the stars Golden State has pursued and missed since their 2022 championship.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit was the one that got away
No target carried more weight than Giannis Antetokounmpo, the centerpiece they sought to pair with Curry during his prime. Formal discussions of pursuing Antetokounmpo began around 2025. ESPN reported that the Warriors had a realistic path to landing him only if he requested a departure from Milwaukee, since a straight-up bidding war would have been unlikely to succeed otherwise. By January 2026, reports indicated the Warriors joined the Heat, Knicks, and Timberwolves in presenting offers to the Bucks before the trade deadline.
On the court, Antetokounmpo’s production—27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists per game last season—illustrated why Golden State pursued him. His size and athleticism would have complemented Curry, potentially extending the title window after Kevin Durant’s departure. In the end, Milwaukee traded Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, a pick swap, and a second-round pick. That outcome underscored that Antetokounmpo was indeed attainable, but not inevitably within reach for Golden State.
Kawhi Leonard looked positioned to join, but the move never fully materialized
Kawhi Leonard emerged as a potential trade target for the Warriors before the 2026 deadline and actually came closer than many realized. Reports indicated Golden State discussed a Leonard deal with the Clippers in the final days leading up to the deadline, but Clippers owner Steve Ballmer ultimately blocked the move. The Warriors continued to consider Leonard a favorable win-now target into the offseason, given his 27.9-point, 6.4-rebound, and 3.6-assist production across 65 games the previous season. However, Leonard’s willingness to join the Warriors remained uncertain, and Toronto ultimately acquired him from the Clippers in a deal that reshaped the framework of competing teams.
Pascal Siakam could have been a long-term fit, but the timing and fit issues lingered
Siakam didn’t command the same headlines as some other targets, but in hindsight, he might have been a sensible fit. Early 2024 reports indicated Golden State was among several teams in talks with Toronto about a Siakam trade, though concerns about fit and his impending free agency stalled progress. Siakam’s offense has always included ample scoring, but questions about spacing alongside Draymond Green were valid. Since then, Siakam has continued to produce strong numbers, highlighting the missed opportunity for a frontcourt scorer who could contribute in the playoffs without constant ball-handling demands.
Lauri Markkanen was a near-perfect match for the Warriors’ system
Markkanen was arguably the closest match to Golden State’s needs: a seven-footer who can shoot, run the floor, and attack off the dribble without disrupting pace. The Warriors did seriously pursue him in 2024, but Utah’s asking price proved prohibitive. Utah reportedly sought a major package including multiple young players and multiple draft assets, a demand the Warriors were unlikely to meet. Draymond Green reportedly advised against approving such a mega-deal, given the price tag. The process stalled, and Markkanen later signed a substantial extension with Utah, continuing to deliver as a high-volume scorer. The lane for acquiring him closed as the price remained steep and draft assets piled up.
OG Anunobi was a strong proxy for the type of player Golden State wanted
Anunobi has been viewed as exactly the kind of player contenders pay for: a versatile wing who can defend, space the floor, and contribute without needing heavy offensive usage. Golden State reportedly pushed to land Anunobi ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, but Toronto’s asking price included Jonathan Kuminga plus additional players and draft picks. Holding onto Kuminga at the time made sense, given his youth and cost, but Anunobi’s value has grown, and he has since proven to be a high-impact player on a winning squad. The missed opportunity here underscores the Warriors’ ongoing challenge of acquiring a true two-way wing who can carry critical minutes in the playoffs.
The Kevin Durant reunion never truly happened
The Durant situation stands out because Durant himself ultimately closed the door on a return to Golden State. The Warriors had a trade plan ready for 2025 that would have involved sending Jimmy Butler to Phoenix as part of the package. Durant later stated that his decision to stay away from a mid-season trade was not about his history with the Warriors or with Draymond Green, but rather about not wanting to be traded during a season. Durant’s on-court impact remains undeniable, and his production has sustained even in later years. Golden State’s pivot to pursue Butler was a significant shift, though Durant’s presence would likely have altered the franchise’s trajectory substantially.
Paul George was inches away from arriving
Before his move to Boston, Paul George was a serious target for the Warriors. The conversations reportedly went deeper than most other pursuits, with the team evaluating a package centered around Chris Paul’s contract, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and future first-round picks. Reports at the time described the front office exploring options that leveraged Paul’s salary as a key financial piece. George’s production at the time was compelling, but the deal never came to fruition, and he eventually signed with Philadelphia. In hindsight, this miss seems less consequential than others due to changes in George’s performance and role in subsequent seasons.
Zach LaVine represented a simpler, more situational fit
LaVine was not pitched as a franchise-altering star but as a scoring option to supplement Curry. The Bulls reportedly offered LaVine in a package centered on Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins, which the Warriors declined. Trade discussions picked up again in 2025, with reports of substantial talks involving LaVine and Wiggins, depending on package structure. LaVine’s scoring ability is evident, but his fit with Golden State’s defensive and playmaking needs was a limiting factor, given his defensive limitations and contract size. Ultimately, walking away from that deal was prudent from a financial and roster perspective.
Damian Lillard’s pursuit was a bold but complex idea
After the Bucks released Damian Lillard following an Achilles injury, the Warriors were among the teams to gauge interest. Lillard ultimately chose to return to Portland on a three-year deal, with a no-trade clause and a player option. Before the injury, Lillard had been averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists, illustrating the talent that could have complemented Curry in Golden State. Lillard’s decision to stay in Portland limited the immediate impact of this pursuit, though the potential pairing remained tantalizing for a time.
The Warriors’ pattern of near-misses and cautious moves
The common thread across these pursued stars is clear: the Warriors often engaged in serious discussions without fully committing their best assets. They explored packages, held productive conversations, and considered dramatic moves, but rarely pushed all-in in a way that forced a deal. There was a strategic inclination toward preserving the future while Curry remained at a high level. The goal was to stay competitive without gutting the roster for a rental or overpaying with future picks and young players. While this approach preserved flexibility for a while, it did not yield a transformative acquisition, leaving the team with a narrower path as the title window began to close.
In sum, Golden State showed ambition and consistently explored top-tier opportunities. However, the franchise ultimately did not translate that ambition into the kind of aggressive, game-changing trades that could have redefined their championship era. The balance between sustaining a competitive roster and pursuing a high-impact upgrade proved difficult to strike, and the Warriors now face a challenging window with limited time to maneuver a dramatic turnaround.
