The Golden State Warriors’ 2024-25 season came to a frustrating close on Wednesday, as the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated them in five games to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Without Steph Curry for the final four games due to a hamstring injury, Golden State simply couldn’t keep up. Now, with another season ending in early May, the spotlight shifts to what’s next — and if this version of the Warriors can even compete anymore.
NBA legend and TNT analyst Charles Barkley didn’t mince words when weighing in.
“You can’t go to war with three old guys against the West,” Barkley said on Inside the NBA, referencing Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. “Father Time don’t lose.”
"The [Jonathan] Kuminga thing is interesting… He either plays or he doesn't play. But now you gotta make a decision… You can't go to war with three old guys against the West."
Charles Barkley on the Warriors
(via @NBAonTNT)pic.twitter.com/MHz4UofnOr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 15, 2025
He’s not wrong. Curry is 37. Butler turns 36 before next season. Green is 35. And the West is only getting younger and stronger, with teams like Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Houston stacked with rising stars. Golden State, meanwhile, is stuck between eras — all-in on contending with Curry while still trying to develop its next core.
This season’s Butler trade was a swing at winning now. And it almost worked. Golden State was 25-26 before acquiring Butler at the deadline but went 23-8 after. When Curry and Butler were both on the floor, the Warriors looked dangerous. But Curry’s injury ended any real chance to measure this roster’s true ceiling.
Jonathan Kuminga, a restricted free agent this summer, showed flashes in Curry’s absence, dropping 26 points off the bench in the season-ending loss. Brandin Podziemski had a breakout game with 28 points. But neither has proven they can consistently carry the load in high-stakes playoff moments.
That leaves the front office at a crossroads. Do they retool around the aging trio, or blow it up and chase another star? Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, long rumored to be a target, looms as the dream acquisition. But landing him would likely mean parting with Butler or Green, and gutting what little depth remains.
Even if a blockbuster trade happens, the Warriors face a harsh new reality under the league’s CBA. Depth matters now more than ever. The second apron restricts roster flexibility, and the buyout market is no longer a safety net. The days of stacking superteams are over — and the Warriors’ bench isn’t the Iguodala-Livingston crew of their dynasty days.
Curry has two years left on his deal. So do Butler and Green. That gives the front office a tight window — and not much margin for error.
One thing is clear: the Warriors’ time as a title favorite may be over. And unless they find a bold (but balanced) way forward, Barkley’s words might echo loudest heading into next season.
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For the past two seasons, Joel Embiid has been dealing with a knee issue. The former MVP underwent surgery in April to try to repair his meniscus, the second time he's received such surgery in the past 12 months. Embiid recently sat down for a tell-all interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, where he detailed the struggles his body is currently going through. "We're not going to push anything," Embiid said. "For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach ... We don't have a timeline. Hopefully, sooner rather than later ... It's all about the results ... If I come back early enough and I'm still not myself, guess what? You're not winning any games." Embiid's struggles have left the Sixers in a precarious situation. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey has built the entire roster around the star center's unique skill set. Philadelphia has constructed a team to go as far as Embiid can take it. It makes sense, then, that Embiid is just as frustrated with his injury-induced absences as the rest of the Sixers fanbase. In a July 27 appearance on Sirius XM Radio, Sixers beat writer Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer shared a unique take on the big man's recent interview and the messaging he's been putting out recently. "I think Joel may know that the end is near, and this is just me saying, and it's kind of like explaining to people what he's been going through," Pompey said. "Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain (they're in) and how much they're going through. The thing I took from it was no matter who is there, the culture is the same. And I feel like Joel Embiid knows that it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he feels as though he can't play to the level he used to. I could be wrong. He could come out and have another MVP season. But that was my takeaway." Embiid is probably one more lost season away from making such a difficult decision. He's only suited up for 58 games over the past two seasons, 39 in 2023-24 and 19 in 2024-25. Embiid doesn't project as the sort of player who would accept a decline while still cashing enormous checks that limit his team's ability to compete. The problem for Embiid is that injuries are only half the battle. Even when healthy, conditioning has been his Achilles heel. So, not only would he need to stay injury-free, both with his knee and his back, but he would also need to get into the best shape of his life. Anything less, and the Sixers could be doomed to repeat their failures of the past. Embiid is still working his way through a long road of recovery. However, he may also be coming to terms that the NBA chapter of his life is on the final few pages, and that must be a daunting reality to face.
The Las Vegas Raiders were without Malcolm Koonce last season after he tore his ACL before the season started. So, they had to rely on production from other players, like Charles Snowden, K'Lavon Chaisson, Tyree Wilson, and others. And, to be fair to those guys, it worked -- despite all of the injuries the Raiders had on the defensive line last season, to Koonce, Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, and Tyree Wilson, the defensive line was still really, really good, and that's props to Robbie Leonard, the DL coach. Now, it's been a year -- Koonce, who hasn't played in a year, was brought back as a free agent on a one-year deal, where he will get to prove himself, that he's still the same guy despite the injury. If he is, they will likely bring him back on a bigger, long-term deal. If he's not, then the Raiders may just move on. Koonce has been back at camp, and the Raiders couldn't be happier to see him. Patrick Graham is happy to see Malcolm Koonce at training camp “I'm excited for him to get a chance to get out there and get better. I'm glad he’s back. His energy both on the field and in the classroom is infectious. The fact that he goes out there and executes at a high level, it’s always encouraging to see that, and it’s a good example for other players," defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said on Day 4 of training camp. 2023 was a crazy season for Koonce. His performance was particularly notable in the second half of the season, where he recorded six of his eight sacks and 10 of his 17 quarterback hits in the final four games, with a standout game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, where he notched a career-high three sacks and eight pressures against Patrick Mahomes. He was balling, for sure. His performance surged after Week 8, with 35 pressures, seven sacks, six tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles, establishing him as one of the NFL’s top pass rushers during that stretch. If the Raiders can get that back in 2025, things are going to get scary for the rest of the league.
The Indiana Fever’s starters turned in a strong all-around effort in Thursday’s 80-70 win over the Las Vegas Aces. The starting unit scored at least 13 points each, save for Aari McDonald, who registered nine points in 22 minutes of action. Indiana’s starters combined for 76 out of the team’s 80 points on the evening, which only means that the four other players who came off the bench accounted for just four points in the game. All that came from Sydney Colson, who went 2-of-5 in 18 minutes of playing time. Lexie Hull, Makayla Timpson and Damiris Dantas all failed to score in the win. Stephanie White Calls Out Fever's Bench Be that as it may, offense wasn’t even the biggest concern for head coach Stephanie White. In her postgame press conference, the veteran shot-caller called out Indiana’s bench for their lack of intensity on the defensive end, particularly in the first half. “Our bench has to be ready,” she said. “I felt like our bench in the second half was really good defensively. In the first half, I didn't feel that way. You got to be ready to come in and you got to be ready to guard your matchup and execute the game plan. "We have depth for a reason. We've got quality depth and we've got to be able to use it. So if fatigue is a factor in execution, then they just need to ask for a sub and I'll get them out and get them back in." It has been a bit of a busy stretch for the Fever at the midway point of the season. Thursday’s matchup against the Aces was their second game in three nights, and they will be back in action again on Sunday in a rivalry showdown against the Chicago Sky. White, however, isn’t accepting fatigue as an excuse. This is regardless of the fact that Caitlin Clark remains out with a re-aggravated groin injury. White is adamant that this roster has been built for adversity, and she didn’t hesitate to put her bench on notice after Thursday’s showing.
The Indiana Fever recently defeated the Chicago Sky 93-78, earning a victory over their rivals despite Caitlin Clark being ruled out. Clark has been ruled out for quite some time, having missed a large portion of her second season in the WNBA with a string of injuries. Another WNBA star who's recently dealt with a setback is Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese. The 23-year-old Sky star was ruled out of the matchup against the Fever, nursing a back injury. Before the Fever versus Sky matchup, Indiana coach Stephanie White spoke on the absence of Reese. During her conversation with the media, White labeled Reese as the "best rebounder" in the WNBA. "We know that she is the best rebounder in this league," White said. "The way they use her in the point-forward position sometimes creates some challenges." Angel Reese has earned the label from Stephanie White. Since entering the WNBA last season, Reese has been widely regarded as one of the best rebounders in the league, having capped off her rookie year by averaging a double-double. She finished her rookie season posting 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Reese was second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Throughout her second season in the WNBA, Angel Reese has posted 13.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, similar to her stat line from her rookie season. The Chicago Sky will await the return of Reese, who's widely known as their best and most versatile player.