Jimmy Butler had recently been the subject of strong rumors linking him to the Golden State Warriors, but those speculations seemed to slow down a bit when Miami Heat President Pat Riley stated just over a week ago that the team wouldn’t trade the 6-time All-Star.
However, despite Riley’s attempt to squash the rumors, the trade talk was unlikely to end there, especially with the February 6 trade deadline approaching. Now, the conversation has been reignited after Butler’s recent comments following the Heat’s 128-115 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.
Butler might have revived the possibility of a trade to the Warriors when he expressed a desire to regain his joy on the court. When asked if that could happen in Miami, Butler replied with a “probably not,” a statement that will surely spark further speculation about his future.
This remark also aligns with a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania on Christmas Day, which suggested that Butler might prefer a move away from Miami before the deadline.
Thursday’s loss was only Butler’s second game back after missing five games, where he posted a modest nine points, two rebounds, and four assists while finishing with a game-low -27 in 27 minutes. In his return against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, he again struggled, scoring just nine points, four rebounds, and two assists in an 11-point win. He attempted only five shots in nearly 25 minutes, and his season average has dipped to under 18 points per game, the lowest since his third year with the Chicago Bulls in 2013-14.
The Warriors have been frequently mentioned as a potential landing spot for Butler, though other Western Conference teams, such as the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets, are also reportedly on his list of teams he’s “open to” joining, according to Charania.
Butler’s hefty contract, with a $48.8 million salary, presents a major obstacle for any team interested in acquiring him. The Warriors would likely need to move at least four players, including starting small forward Andrew Wiggins, to make the deal work. Additionally, Golden State would need to offer Butler a substantial multi-year extension in the offseason, as the 14-year veteran is expected to opt out of his $52.4 million player option in the summer.
