Kuminga Likely Gone, Warriors Keep Green and Butler

Merlin sees Golden State is unlikely to overhaul its roster before the Feb 5 trade deadline. The front office is "staunchly against" trading Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler, per Sam Amick, and Jonathan Kuminga looks like the most probable outgoing piece. Kuminga’s $22.5 million salary alone probably will not net the kind of impact player the Warriors need to climb the standings. Merlin notes the real obstacle is arithmetic and age. The Warriors have interest in Anthony Davis but cannot absorb his $54.1 million salary without moving a major contract, and Curry Green and Butler are all older players with injury history. At 17 and 16 they sit eighth in the West and face five weeks to decide whether patience or bold action will define the season.