GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

January 20, 2026

Mike Dunleavy

Media Conference

MIKE DUNLEAVY: The news is not good. ACL injuries are not things that you can be positive about. But this will all come out well in the end and we'll move forward. I think our team's in a good spot, and obviously we've got some things to figure out over the next year in terms of roster, finances and all that that we'll sort through. But for now we're just kind of getting through it here the last 24 hours and we'll figure it out.

Q. I know this is early in kind of the process, but how do you envision this news impacting your deadline strategy?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Yeah, I mean, tough to say. Our team's in a different spot today than it was this time yesterday. So it will in some way, but I think it just always comes down simply to making good decisions. That will be the same here. Maybe the parameters have changed maybe the goal posts have moved a little bit, but we'll still, we believe in making good sound decisions and we'll do that. Whether it's something big, small, whatever. The main thing is we do the right thing.

Q. Last year different situation, but Melton tore his ACL, you ended up trading the contract. How do you envision Jimmy, his contract, he's under contract next year, his rehab, and the willingness or non-willingness to potentially move his contract?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: I mean, I don't envision that, but now that you brought it up, I guess I would say what I envision for him is kind of giving us a boost next year the same way he did last year when he arrived. So, at some point during the season, him returning and being the player he's been. At his age, what he's doing this year, to have the year he's had is impressive, I think he's got a style of game that can play for a long time with his skill, his physicality, his mind for the game. So I guess my vision for him is him returning at some point between now and this time next year.

Q. Steph talks a lot about the importance of playing meaningful basketball in the spring. Is that still the front office's objective is to get this team to have the opportunity to play meaningful basketball?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Yeah.

Q. And what's your belief level that this current group, without Jimmy is capable of doing that?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Yeah, I don't think there's an argument to make that we're a better team without Jimmy Butler, so no doubt that's something we're going to have to figure out and find a way to win some games. But I think this group's capable. Obviously with Steph and Draymond, their championship pedigree, you add in Al who's in there Mel's having a great year. And then our young players, BP, Moses, QP. We've got a good deep team, a lot of people are contributing and there's no doubt in my mind we can continue to win games. We're just, let's call it what it is, we're not as good without Jimmy.

Q. What are the next steps for Jimmy's injury surgery-wise and rehab?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Figuring out the surgery date and then he'll get into some rehab from there and it's a long road ahead. But as have a very recoverable injury and we're optimistic about it. We hope to get him out here as soon as we can.

Q. How do you feel personally about this type of injury, I mean, you've known Jimmy for a long time, just as a former teammate and then was a big part in bringing him here. How do you feel personally about the situation and also have you talked to Jimmy and how is his spirits right now?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Yeah, Jimmy's in good spirits. I hate it for him on a personal level, former teammate. I've been through some injuries and surgeries, but never an ACL, something this significant. I know that he's got a long road ahead, but he'll have the support of our group, our organization, our medical side and I know he'll bounce back.

Q. Kuminga's trade demand, how did you take that, and does Jimmy's injury alter the way you're approaching what Kuminga, what could happen to him by the trade deadline?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Yeah, I think as far as the demand, I'm aware of that. I think when you in terms of demands when you make a demand, there needs to be a demand on the market. So we'll see where that unfolds. But heard. Always with these guys, I tell 'em I'm willing to work with them, I want to help people out. Whether that's JK or any player on our roster. So we're good with if that's his wishes, trying to figure that out, but we got to do what's best for our organization, and that's what we'll do.

And as far as it goes with the deadline coming up, I think we'll take the next couple weeks to assess this team a little bit more. I felt pretty good with where we're at heading into last night's game in terms of what we need to do. I thought our team was playing really well, heading in the right direction, obviously things have changed, so I want to take a couple weeks here to watch these games and see our team and what we can do better.

Q. On Kuminga, have you talked to him much in the last few days?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Yeah.

Q. Do you get the sense that if the opportunity presents itself that he will play still here?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: I hope so. I think that's a question for him. But as far as the playing time stuff and all that goes, that's more so for Steve. But, yeah, I hope he would play and be bought in. I would hope so.

Q. To close that part out, as an organization, would you guys be comfortable if he played leading into the deadline still?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean he's available every night. I think there's a path and a way for him to help us win games. He knows what that is. If he can do those things, there's no doubt I think he can help us.

Q. As you explore all the options and possible trade options, how much value are you placing on your draft picks or future draft picks, and is it conceivable that that could possibly be in play?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Yeah, I think our picks always will and have been in play. You just, to give up our picks, it's got to be meaningful to get something back. So for that reason there's only so many players out there that probably warrant putting stuff like that on the table, but we're looking at everything. Joe Lacob is our owner, so you're always exploring all possibilities, willing to do any type of deal. And maybe stuff has changed a little bit with Draymond, I mean with Jimmy's injury, but I'm not sure how much that affects our aggressiveness. We're going to have to kind of see on that.

Q. As far as whether Jonathan Kuminga rejoining the rotation, what do you think about that possibility after he hasn't played in a game, he hasn't played in 16 straight games, the unusualness and maybe the awkwardness, frankly, of the situation?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Yeah, I think I would hope he's ready. That's his job as a professional to stay ready, be ready. I think Steve's communicated that to him. So if his number's called I would expect him to go out there and play well. But it's a tough situation for him not having played. But there's guys De'Anthony Melton played 10 games in a year, so it's doable to kind of get your rhythm and get back in the flow. Like I said, if his number's called by Steve, we expect him to do that.

Q. How do you feel just adding on to Kuminga, how do you feel about how that situation has devolved?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: I'm probably disappointed it hasn't worked out better, but you know, it is what it is. Without getting into it too much, I think I have a pretty good understanding of what's gone on. But there's still, you know, there's still time left here. He's on our roster. I know a trade has been requested, but nothing's imminent and things in this league can change in a heart beat, as they did last night. So he's got to be ready and we'll be ready.

Q. The future assets that you guys have to trade, what level of player would really entice you to want to make a deal like that. Are we talking starter, another All-Star, given kind of where this team is and what the goal is to compete for what's left of Steph's prime, what really would get you to maybe shove some of those chips in?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: I think if we're talking about trading draft picks that will be going out when Steph isn't here, it's going to have to be a player that we think we'll be getting back that is going to be here when those picks are going out. So and we're going to -- and that player's going to have to be pretty impactful. So it would take a good amount, positionally, play style, archetype, all that. I would leave it pretty broad and open. But if there's a great player to be had, we've got everything in the war chest that we would be willing to use.

Q. Obviously several weeks to go before the deadline, have you had general conversations, has there been any discussions about frameworks of deals or is it still, is that still to be determined?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: No, I think there's a lot of dialog going on around the League. We talk to all these teams, everybody's talking to each other, feeling each other out. We really haven't seen any trades yet, which usually this, two weeks away, you'll see one or two. But I think there's been some good discussions and stuff will start to heat up here the next couple weeks as we know. So we'll see. But I think for us, you know, this injury, better now than two weeks from now or three weeks from now. It gives us a little bit of opportunity to assess and see if there's something we can do to help us out. But, yeah, all in all, not great.

Q. Not much money on the books committed beyond 2027. How much discussion has there been about that as a potential inflection point, and what would it require for you guys to take on salary beyond 2027 in a trade?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: I think that's something that's important to us for sure. The salary stuff now days is so big, these aprons are very challenging, so you have to be careful about the money you're taking on both short-term, long-term, how much it is. Yeah, I would say the same thing along the lines of the picks. We'll take on money beyond that, but it's got to be worthwhile.

Q. You brought up when it comes to the trade demand there needs to be a demand on the other side as well. What have you felt Jonathan's market has been, and have you, is there any concern that these DNPs have hurt his value when it comes to the trade market?

MIKE DUNLEAVY: No concern. Market I'll keep to myself.