If the Golden State Warriors make a major move at the 2024 trade deadline, there's a chance Chris Paul has already played his last game in blue and gold.

The future Hall-of-Fame point guard is expected to miss four-to-six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken left hand, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. That timeline aligns Paul's prospective early return to the floor closely with the February 8th, the last day NBA teams are permitted to make trades during the 2023-24 season.

Paul suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Warriors' much-needed home win over the lowly Detroit Pistons on Friday. After the final buzzer, the team quickly announced that Paul sustained a fracture and would require surgery.

Golden State is among the most intriguing potential buyers in basketball as the trade deadline fast approaches. Former lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody—both eligible for contract extensions this summer—have both expressed frustration recently with their fluctuating roles in Steve Kerr's rotation, fueling existing speculation either or both could be moved as part of a package for a star-level veteran.

Paul's $30 million contract, completely non-guaranteed for 2024-25, was always viewed as the Dubs' most likely salary-matching ballast in that type of deal. His injury status cements that possibility even further, as do varying season-long labors of Andrew Wiggins—negative value on his contract by this point—and Klay Thompson, the latter of whom remains indispensable to Golden State's hopes of reaching its ceiling.

Obviously, Chris Paul's tenure with the Warriors hasn't gone how internal optimists anticipated. Don't be surprised if it soon comes to an end.