Word on the street is that the Miami Heat are open to trading Jimmy Butler. Butler, at 35, is still delivering solid numbers—18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game this season. He’s got a player option worth $52.4 million for the 2025-26 season, but rumors suggest he might decline it to explore free agency. His agent has hinted that Jimmy’s eyeing teams with championship potential, and guess who’s on that list? Yep, the Warriors, along with the Rockets and Mavericks.
On the other side, we’ve got LeBron James. Despite the Lakers’ ups and downs, LeBron has been clear about his commitment to staying in L.A. Still, reports indicate that the Warriors are keeping tabs on his situation, just in case things change.
Now, how could the Warriors pull off bringing both of these stars to the Bay? It’s a tall order, no doubt. Golden State’s roster is already packed with hefty contracts, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and recent additions like Buddy Hield, who came in after Klay Thompson’s move to the Mavericks.
To make room for Butler and potentially LeBron, the Warriors would need to get creative with their assets. This could mean parting ways with promising talents like Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody, and possibly moving some of their recent veteran signings.
Financially, it’s a tight squeeze. The Warriors are already deep into luxury tax territory, and adding two massive contracts would complicate things further. They’d have to negotiate deals that might involve multiple teams to balance salaries and make the trades feasible.
Getting Jimmy To The Bay
Warriors receive: Jimmy Butler
Heat receive: Andrew Wiggins, De’Anthony Melton, Kevon Looney, Lindy Waters III, 2025 First-Round Pick, 2027 First-Round Pick
This potential trade could send Jimmy Butler to the Warriors, giving Golden State another defensive and offensive weapon to complement Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Right now, the Warriors are sitting at 14-10, fifth in the West, and looking for that one move to push them back into title contention. Meanwhile, the Heat are 13-10 and reportedly exploring their options with Butler before potentially losing him for nothing in free agency this summer.
For Golden State, this deal would hurt a bit but not as much as you’d think. Andrew Wiggins, who’s averaging 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists this season, has been solid but not irreplaceable. De’Anthony Melton had a brief impact, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in six games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Kevon Looney remains a glue guy, but his departure is manageable with the Warriors’ depth, and Lindy Waters III is more of a cap filler in this deal.
What makes this trade especially attractive for the Warriors is that it doesn’t require them to part ways with their young core of Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Instead, they’re leveraging two future first-round picks, a move that aligns with their “win now” mentality while keeping some of their developmental pieces intact.
This trade isn’t ideal for the Heat, but their hands might be tied. Butler holds a $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season, and early indications are that he’ll decline it to test free agency. The Heat face the risk of losing their star for nothing in the offseason, so getting a solid package of Wiggins—who can slot into a similar two-way role—and draft picks for the future might be their best option.
The fit for Butler in Golden State is seamless. His defensive versatility and ability to step up in clutch moments align perfectly with the Warriors’ identity. Butler’s gritty, do-it-all mentality would take pressure off Curry, especially in the playoffs, while giving them another ball-handler and shot creator.
This move wouldn’t just make the Warriors better; it would strike fear into the rest of the league. Butler alongside Curry, Draymond, and the Warriors’ depth? That’s a squad built for a deep playoff run. The Heat, on the other hand, would reset around Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro while stockpiling assets for the future.
At the end of the day, this deal might come down to Miami’s willingness to accept a package without another rising star like Kuminga or Moody. But given Butler’s looming free agency, this could be their best chance to avoid losing him for nothing.
Going All-In For The King Himself
Warriors receive: LeBron James, Bronny James
Lakers receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II, Kyle Anderson, Gui Santos, Trayce Jackson-Davis, 2026 Swap Pick, 2029 Swap Pick
Imagine this: the Warriors have just traded for Jimmy Butler, adding him to a squad with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Now they’re doubling down, targeting the King himself, LeBron James, and his son, Bronny, to create a Big 4 that would instantly become the most dangerous lineup in the league.
LeBron’s still a monster on the court, putting up 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds in 23 games this season. But the Lakers are floundering, sitting at 13-11 and 8th in the West with a 3-7 record in their last 10 games. A fresh start might make sense, and LeBron’s well-documented desire to play alongside Bronny only adds intrigue to the situation.
For the Warriors, this trade would strip their roster down to the bare bones, as much of their depth would head to both the Heat (in the Butler deal) and the Lakers. This move would mean parting ways with Kuminga, Moody, and Buddy Hield—three key contributors, plus all of their remaining role players. Essentially, the Warriors would sacrifice their entire supporting cast to unite LeBron and Butler with Curry and Draymond.
The result? A Big 4 unlike anything the league has ever seen. Curry’s shooting, Butler’s defense, LeBron’s playmaking, and Draymond’s leadership would make Golden State terrifying for any opponent. Sure, their bench would be nonexistent, but in playoff basketball, star power often trumps depth.
In a more realistic scenario, the Warriors could wait until the summer to revisit this move. A better offseason deal might include Kuminga, Moody, Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield, and 2026/2029 swap picks, with Kuminga signing close to a 25 million deal as a Restricted Free Agent to become the centerpiece of the trade. This would allow the Warriors to keep some of their current rotation intact while still acquiring LeBron.
Either way, the Warriors are swinging for the fences. After adding Butler, they’re clearly in “win now” mode, and pairing him with LeBron and Curry would guarantee them another shot at a title. The cost? Their entire roster. But for a team that’s already all-in, why not go a little further?
A Monster Warriors Lineup
Starting Lineup: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James, Draymond Green
Bench: Bronny James, Gui Santos, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
This is the Death Lineup 2.0 (or maybe 3.0?) for the 2025-26 season, featuring a star-studded core of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and LeBron James, flanked by Draymond Green’s defense and the sharp shooting of Brandin Podziemski. On paper, this lineup is a nightmare for any opponent. Curry running the offense with Butler and LeBron as two-way monsters? Draymond quarterbacking the defense while Podziemski rains threes? Good luck stopping that.
But here’s the catch: the Warriors’ bench depth is practically nonexistent. After gutting their roster in trades for Butler and LeBron, the second unit is a mix of unproven young players like Bronny James, Gui Santos, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, plus an unknown in Quinten Post. They’re solid prospects, but relying on them to carry minutes in a playoff series is a huge gamble. Any injury to one of the Big Four would be catastrophic, and even in the regular season, this roster would need all its stars healthy just to stay competitive.
Golden State is banking on their stars being healthy and carrying the load for an entire season and deep playoff run. If they can stay on the court, this lineup is almost impossible to beat. But if injuries or fatigue hit? Things could unravel fast. The Warriors are essentially walking a tightrope without a safety net—bold, but incredibly risky.
