As the Phoenix Suns retooled their roster by trading for Miles Bridges, retaining their own key free agents and adding Luke Kennard’s sharpshooting, a Pacific Division rival had an offseason to forget.
The Golden State Warriors, at times viewed as the frontrunners to land future Hall of Famer LeBron James, missed out on the league’s all-time leading scorer — who now heads to the Philadelphia 76ers. Golden State had to go back to the drawing board with a Plan B that reportedly included targeting international standout and former NBA lottery pick Mario Hezonja. But Hezonja also spurned the Warriors by signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Confounding matters further, The Ringer’s Logan Murdock reported that the Warriors had an opportunity to pursue former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, “but couldn’t build an organizational consensus that Brown would be the right player to carry the Warriors beyond the Curry era.”
Brown, of course, was acquired by the Sixers and ultimately proved the key cog that was able to woo James to what will likely be his final NBA destination.
After the dust settled, the Warriors re-signed veteran forward Draymond Green and now face an uncertain future.
Warriors’ championship window may officially be closed after 2026 offseason
After missing out on James, Hezonja, and the report that Golden State didn’t believe in the star power of Brown, the Warriors dynasty may officially be at its end.
It’s unclear what stars Steve Kerr’s crew can now pivot toward, as even an addition like trade rumor mill mainstay Domantas Sabonis won’t put Golden State in the category of the Thunder or Spurs in the Western Conference.
Stephen Curry is entering his age-38 season. He played just 43 games a season ago due to injuries — a career low barring the 2019-20 season when he played only five games.
Curry’s Hall of Fame career is reaching the end of the runway, which provides opportunity for Phoenix.
The Suns may have already put the final nail in the proverbial coffin of the Warriors’ dynastic run by ousting them from the play-in tournament in 2026.
Jimmy Butler’s return from a torn ACL is now what the Warriors will be banking on in 2026-27, but the Pacific Division now appears to be a two-horse race between the Suns and new-look Los Angeles Lakers.
Phoenix finished eight games back of LA in the division a season ago, and should aim for a division crown now that the LA Clippers and Warriors continue to weaken.
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