The Warriors were desperate to make a splash — any splash — to bolster their roster at the trade deadline.
On Wednesday, they did just that, striking a deal with the Heat to land want-away wing Jimmy Butler.
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The trade, which saw Golden State part ways with Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and a protected 2025 first-round pick, was of little surprise to those keeping tabs on the Warriors' pre-deadline sentiments. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Golden State made calls for any and every call in the lead-up to the deadline, hoping to find someone to share the scoring load with Stephen Curry.
Butler was the name it landed on. The Warriors wasted little time tying their future to the six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, agreeing terms to a two-year, $121 million contract extension with Butler.
How did Butler end up in the Bay Area? The Sporting News gives you the run down on why Golden State felt so compelled to make a move for mercurial 35-year old.
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Why did the Warriors trade for Jimmy Butler?
The Warriors' decision to acquire Butler's services largely revolves around two factors. For one, he delivers a much-needed injection of scoring prowess to Golden State. Stephen Curry is still playing at a high level, although his play has tailed off compared to years past. But beyond him, the Dubs were lacking in offensive firepower. Prior to Butler's arrival, Curry was the only player on the team to average at least 18 points per game.
Butler, for all of his rumored foibles, can still impose his will on opposition defenses. Across 25 games, Butler posted averages of 17 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists in just 30.6 minutes of game action. He can be an inconsistent three-point shooter, but he's sank at least 35 percent of his tries from beyond the arc in each of his past three years. And Butler is as efficient as they come, posting a true shooting percentage of 63.8%.
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Even if Butler's production wobbles slightly, he still figures to be the Warriors' second-best offensive weapon. That's not to mention his penchant for big-time moments. Butler has developed a reputation as one of the league's best-ever playoff risers. If Golden State can surge up the Western Conference standings, there are few players better equipped to handle the spotlight than the 35-year old.
There's also the case of desperation for those in blue-and-gold. Multiple reports indicate that Golden State had concerns over Butler's prospective price tag and locker room fit when rumors first emerged of Butler's spat with the Heat. The Athletic's Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson revealed that some in the Warriors camp were concerned over the possibility of "combustion" with Butler on the roster.
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor seconded those sentiments, adding that Curry and head coach Steve Kerr were wary of Butler's history with his previous teams.
The idea of shelling out real assets — be that Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody or a lightly-protected first — seemed unwise.
But as Butler and his former employer's feud grew more pronounced, his trade value dissipated. Ultimately, Golden State was able to add a second star — granted, a 35-year old – without completely sacrificing its future.
That doesn't mean the Dubs won't have to shell out a pretty penny for Butler's services. Butler's contract will see him secure upwards of $60 million in 2025-26 and 2026-27. His standing in the league, while alluring, probably doesn't warrant such a hefty figure.
Nevertheless, that's the cost of doing business in today's NBA. Golden State will hope Butler can produce on the floor and keep his head down off of it. If he does, perhaps the Warriors can salvage a little more joy out of the twilight of Curry's career.