The Golden State Warriors made one of the boldest moves of the NBA trade deadline by acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. For a team still trying to maximize the final years of Stephen Curry, Butler’s arrival brings a battle-tested, playoff-proven veteran to their core. Now paired with Curry and Draymond Green, Butler has the opportunity to play in a system that could bring out the best in him.
Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade shared his thoughts on Butler joining Golden State on the “The Why With Dwyane Wade” podcast. He explained why he believes this is a perfect situation for Butler to thrive:
“I mean, this is a three-year play. This an all-in, probably for the next three years in Golden State. When you got one of the greatest players to ever put on a jersey, it is your duty to make sure they have an opportunity when they say ‘I need more,’ to make sure you give him more.”
“And so obviously, they tried to pull off other moves, but this is the move they end up getting.”
“And when I look at this from Jimmy’s standpoint, I go back to the Jimmy I knew in Marquette, the Jimmy I knew in Chicago at first before he became an All-Star Jimmy, the Jimmy that is just like a wild dog off the leash because he can now just be Jimmy.”
“He don’t have to worry about scoring 56 this night. Now he can, but now he can just be a wild dog off the leash. And that Jimmy is different. That Jimmy can be different, so I’m excited about that.”
This statement highlights an important shift for Butler—he no longer needs to be the sole offensive leader like he was in Miami. Instead, he can focus on playing his best all-around game without the burden of carrying the offense every night.
One of the biggest concerns for the Warriors this season has been their inconsistency on both ends of the floor. While Curry has been spectacular, he hasn’t had the support necessary to compete at the highest level. Adding Butler, a defensive menace and elite two-way player, changes the dynamic completely.
Butler is known for his relentless work ethic, defensive tenacity, and clutch performances in the postseason. His presence allows Curry to play with more freedom, knowing he has a defensive stopper and secondary playmaker on his side. This was evident in his Warriors debut, where he scored 25 points on just 12 shot attempts, getting to the free-throw line 13 times.
In just two games with Golden State, Butler has helped the Warriors to a 2-0 record, averaging 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. More importantly, he has shown that his presence alone can make the Warriors a more formidable team.
Unlike in Miami, where Butler was often relied upon as the primary scorer, Golden State allows him to focus on what he does best—being a disruptive defender, facilitating offense, and picking his spots to take over when needed.
With Steph Curry still playing at an elite level, Draymond Green providing defensive leadership, and a strong supporting cast, Butler could be the piece that pushes the Warriors back into serious title contention.
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