A player's recovery time after an ACL tear varies, but it typically falls in the 9-12 month range. While a return after nine months is possible, Dallas Mavericks PG Kyrie Irving, for example, has yet to return from an early March 2025 ACL tear and is targeting a mid-February return.

The injury Jimmy Butler suffered this week pretty much forces the Warriors to be active ahead of the trade deadline if they want to have any shot at a playoff run this season.

"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 pick...