Is Jimmy Butler a Realistic Possibility for the Warriors?
After falling short in their attempt to acquire Paul George this summer, the Warriors are exploring options to pair Stephen Curry with another established star to secure another championship before his career ends. Yes, it’s true that Curry’s career will eventually come to an end—an event that is sure to make even grown men cry—given he’s 36 years old. However, he’s still performing at an incredibly high level. Adding another elite player could boost Golden State’s chances of winning another championship. Jimmy Butler, who has yet to receive a contract extension, could be the ideal addition the Warriors are seeking. Although the Heat have not expressed interest in trading Butler, they still have not committed to extending his contract, creating a potential window of opportunity for Golden State.
On the TK Show podcast, The Athletic’s Sam Amick said that the Warriors have shown interest in Butler and "probably made a couple calls" to the Heat. After the Warriors missed the playoffs, they’ve been focused on enhancing their roster in every possible way, bringing in Kyle Anderson, De’Anthony Melton, and Buddy Hield. Collectively, these offseason additions will cost over $30 million less than Klay Thompson’s previous $43 million salary. While the loss of Thompson is a hard pill to swallow, these three players improve the roster from last season and at a nice cost. Adding another star like Butler could make the Warriors a formidable contender.
Reasons Miami has struggled to commit to Butler include age, salary, success, and injuries. Butler, who just recently turned 35, has missed at least 15 regular season games in each of the past five seasons. This past season, he was sidelined for the entire critical series against the Celtics due to an MCL injury. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the five-time All-NBA Team member is eligible to sign an extension with the Heat for up to two years and $112.9 million.
Despite his injury troubles, Butler’s productivity remains impressive. In 60 games last season, he averaged 20.8 points on 49.9% shooting, along with 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. The 6′ 7″ forward also shot 41.4% from beyond the arc. As many know, the Warriors do tend to dabble in the three-ball only a little—wink-wink. The reality is, with defenses attempting to concentrate on Steph Curry and his limitless range, scoring opportunities open up for even stars nicknamed Jimmy Buckets.
It is also likely the Heat will want to assess how the team performs early next season before saying any quick goodbyes. The fact is that in his five seasons in Miami, Butler has brought them as many rings as Charles Barkley brought Phoenix: a bit fat zero. The decision comes down to whether Miami is willing to invest even more money long-term into an aging star for less than ideal results and yearly disappointments. If Pat Riley does not see Jimmy Butler as a key piece of Miami’s future, he might start exploring trade opportunities rather than risk losing him as a free agent next summer, which will get them nothing. While he is under contract with Miami for $48.79 million entering this season, he also has the option to decline his $52 million option for the 2025-26 season.
The Warriors will likely be out of the Butler sweepstakes if it comes down to next summer’s free agency, given affordability concerns. The most probable scenario is a trade during the 2024-25 season or a sign-and-trade with the Heat in the offseason. It is important to note that if the Warriors were to ever acquire Jimmy Butler, they would likely need to part with young star Jonathan Kuminga in the process, either through trade or due to financial constraints. Recently, there have been reports that the 21-year-old is seeking a large extension, possibly a maximum contract. If the Warriors choose not to spend their money on Kuminga, he will be able to test the free agency waters next summer. The reality is that with Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green each earning over $24 million for the next two seasons, something's got to give. Kuminga, Butler, and Curry together would create a financial scenario that Dave Ramsey would likely advise against.
The deal remains a possibility, but both sides will need to carefully consider their options. If Miami does not look like they can bring the Larry O’Brien trophy home and Golden State concludes that Kuminga is not worth a max contract, then both teams might find it mutually beneficial, and the deal could very well get done. While Jimmy Butler has had his fair share of teams, having played for several teams already, could Golden State be the destination where he finally wins his first championship? Will he be the key addition that helps Stephen Curry secure his fifth ring, joining legends like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, and Dennis Rodman?
