The Golden State Warriors are probably still a piece or two away from NBA title contention but the latest rumblings indicate that they may already have a trade target in mind. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Jimmy Butler is a name to watch for the Warriors and they’ve had interest for years.
“Yet while rival executives believe the Warriors are more willing than ever to include Kuminga in a trade of significant magnitude, the fact remains that they’re setting their sights very high in terms of possible targets,” wrote Amick. “One name to monitor is Jimmy Butler, the 35-year-old Miami Heat star who league sources say drew interest from the Warriors during the offseason and who did not come to terms on an extension. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer.”
Butler, 35, is at the tail end of a three-year, $146.3 million contract with the Miami Heat. With two Finals appearances since 2020, the 6x All-Star has had a lot of success since moving to South Beach with averages of 21.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game on 49.5% shooting under Erik Spoelstra.
But with no championships in the Butler era and last year’s defeat in the first round of the playoffs, the tides are changing in Miami and there’s a sense that they are re-considering their future with Jimmy Butler. When the Heat then refused to give him an extension this summer, it only heightened the rumors that they are headed for a divorce.
So if the Heat want to trade their star before losing him for nothing next summer, they need to start thinking about potential trades now. Fortunately for the Warriors, they are uniquely equipped to offer a lucrative package.
Between Andrew Wiggins, Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton, and De’Anthony Melton, the Warriors can take on Butler’s salary without giving up Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Buddy Hield, or Jonathan Kuminga.
As one of the best two-way forwards in the game, Butler would immediately raise the Warriors’ ceiling. While he’s not the scorer Kevin Durant was, he can still add versatility on both ends of the floor as a 6’6″ two-way swingman with 13 years of experience.
Last season, in 60 games for the Heat, Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on 49.9% shooting. He often guarded the opposition’s best player and set the tone defensively both on the floor and in the locker room.
For the Warriors, he’s been doing much of the same — only with some backup from Curry and Draymond. With the Warriors, Butler wouldn’t have to be the hero every night and he could lean on trusted veterans and champions to step up when needed.
For now, it’s still too early to say what happens with Jimmy and the Heat but if the time comes when they decide to part ways, we know that the Warriors will be one of the first teams knocking. His arrival would be a return to greatness for the Warriors and the start of the final act of Curry’s career.
But until the Heat reach their breaking point, that moment may never come. Over the next few weeks and months, the situation will be one to monitor as the Heat try and figure out who they are and what they have with their current cast of players.
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