NBA Rumors: The Crazy Trade That Would Send Ja Morant to the Golden State Warriors with Stephen Curry

The 2025-26 season for the Golden State Warriors has been seriously affected by the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Jimmy Butler, an injury that puts an end to his season. The inevitable question is: can the Warriors salvage the year after this blow?

For Dan Favale, an analyst at Bleacher Report, the answer lies in an extreme measure: acquiring another superstar. In this context, Favale has put forth an intriguing scenario where Ja Morant would land in San Francisco as a possible savior for the franchise. Favale's proposal involves a trade between the Warriors and Grizzlies with the following pieces:

Golden State would receive:

• Ja Morant

• Vincent Williams Jr.

Memphis would obtain:

• Buddy Hield

• Jonathan Kuminga

• Moses Moody

• 2026 first-round pick (protected by lottery until 2027; obligation would vanish if not executed)

From Golden State's perspective, Morant's arrival would mean adding another top-level scorer to alleviate the offensive burden on Stephen Curry. Favale succinctly expresses it: if Morant can perform at least 70% of the player he is expected to be, he would help offset the loss of scoring, playmaking, rim pressure, and drawing fouls that the Warriors now lack without Butler.

Favale himself acknowledges, however, that an outside duo of Curry and Morant would face significant defensive issues. Nevertheless, he believes that, with such offensive power, the Warriors should not worry excessively and could later seek another trade to bring in a larger defender to plug that gap.

What Memphis seeks in a Morant trade

The scenario also aligns with the Grizzlies' demands. As Favale recalled, insider Marc Stein reported that Memphis seeks, in any deal for Morant, a good young player and a first-round draft pick. This proposal meets those requirements.

Memphis would receive Jonathan Kuminga, a young small forward with potential, along with Moses Moody, another young player with room for growth, and a moderate first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Being lottery-protected, that selection could not be higher than the 15th spot, as Favale notes.

Butler's injury also had an immediate impact on Steve Kerr's rotation. Kuminga, who had been nearly sidelined for a month, finally emerged from the coach's "exile" and delivered a 20-point performance, somewhat proclaiming himself to interested teams in acquiring him via trade.

The big question is whether a move of this scale would once again make Golden State a truly dangerous playoff contender. With Butler sidelined and Morant as a risky bet, the Warriors teeter between necessity and all or nothing. The outcome, as often in the NBA, will depend on how far they are willing to go.