In arguably the second-biggest NBA trade of this year's very active deadline week, six-time All-Star former Miami Heat small forward Jimmy Butler will play for the fifth franchise of his (likely) Hall of Fame career with the Golden State Warriors.
The club announced the news on its official X account Thursday night.
Initial negotiations stalled out earlier this week when Butler balked at the prospect of inking an extension. On Wednesday, however, everything came together at last.
Butler was flipped to the Warriors as part of what wound up becoming a five-team blockbuster deal. The Heat brought in one-time All-Star ex-Golden State small forward Andrew Wiggins to replace Butler as its starter, plus veteran former Warriors forward Kyle Anderson, former Toronto Raptors point guard Davion Mitchell, and Golden State's top-10 protected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Given Butler's pedigree, that pick is likely to convey.
The Detroit Pistons, meanwhile, add well-traveled Warriors point guard Dennis Schröder and young Golden State guard Lindy Waters III, plus the least favorable of Golden State's or the Minnesota Timberwolves' 2031 second-round draft picks, via the Warriors.
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz add a 2028 second-round draft pick from the Detroit Pistons and the more favorable of the Heat's or Indiana Pacers' 2031 second-rounder, plus ex-Pistons small forward KJ Martin (traded from the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday) and shooting guard Josh Richardson from the Heat.
Toronto, meanwhile, adds power forward P.J. Tucker (himself recently traded from the Clippers, to the Jazz, to the Heat), the Los Angeles Lakers' 2026 second-rounder (via the Heat) and cash considerations.
Butler is reportedly declining his 2025-26 player option, worth $52.4 million, and agreeing to a two-year, $121 million contract extension to play for the Warriors through 2026-27.
New Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler has agreed to a new two-year, $121 million extension with the franchise through 2026-27, sources tell me and @WindhorstESPN. Butler is declining his 2025-26 player option for this new $121M deal.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025The Heat acknowledged the deal becoming official, too, with a classy tribute post to Butler.
Upon touching down in San Francisco, Butler sent a message to Warriors fans celebrating his arrival, promising championship hardware.
A five-time All-NBA honoree and All-Defensive Teamer, Butler has finished among the top 11 in MVP voting three times and among the top 17 in Defensive Player of the Year voting six times. If he wasn't playing in his 14th season and grappling with significant mileage and an extended injury history (although he's had no major surgeries), his addition to Golden State alone just might elevate the Warriors to fringe contender status.
But the team clearly needed more help at the trade deadline. Golden State is achingly small in the frontcourt, with 6-foot-6 Draymond Green, 34 as the team's starting power forward. 7-foot rookie Quinten Post is the club's new starting center, having supplanted 6-foot-9 Trayce Jackson-Davis for size considerations. He's still quite raw.
Read More: Jimmy Butler Reacts to Blockbuster Trade That Sent Him to Warriors
Understandably, the Warriors had been in pursuit of a deal for two-time All-Star Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, a floor-spacing big man who's a solid passer for his position. Per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the two teams couldn't come to terms on a deal.
The Warriors made another run at Chicago's Nikola Vučević on NBA Trade Deadline Day, league sources say, but talks fizzled as the teams could not agree on a trade construction.
More NBA from me: https://t.co/IIIlAlphrN
Butler is not the All-Defensive stopper he was at his absolute prime, although his scoring will likely improve from his Heat numbers.
The 6-foot-7 Marquette product hasn't played a game since Miami suspended him for the third time this season following a 116-107 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 21. He is a mercurial personality at times, but he was also the best player on two NBA Finals teams during his Heat tenure. If he can summon that level of excellence, maybe the Warriors can do something special.
When he has taken the floor, his scoring output has been somewhat diminished. In fairness, he's clearly been less than engaged for some if not all of the 2024-25 season, so focused has the 35-year-old been on getting dealt out of town.
Through 25 games, Butler is averaging 17.0 points while slashing .540/.361/.801 shooting splits, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals a night.
At 25-25, the Warriors are currently the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference, tied by record with the No. 9-seeded Sacramento Kings and the No. 10-seed Phoenix Suns.
Sacramento added plenty of veteran help and draft equity at the trade deadline, bringing in two-time former Chicago Bulls All-Star swingman Zach LaVine and veteran center Jonas Valanciunas while offloading All-Star point guard Jonas Valanciunas. The Suns added 3-and-D forward Cody Martin and reserve point guard Vasilije Micic.
Neither of those teams' moves was nearly as seismic as the Warriors' deal for Butler, though Golden State could still use some more seasoned frontcourt help.
Is the Warriors' new-look core of Butler, 11-time All-Star point guard Stephen Curry, and four-time All-Star forward Green — surrounded by intriguing young pieces and veteran shooters — enough to make them bona fide contenders?
Perhaps not. But the that group seems like it can certainly compete with the veteran-laden teams right above it in the standings — the 28-22 L.A. Clippers, the 28-23 Minnesota Timberwolves and the 27-25 Dallas Mavericks. With some savvy buyout moves, maybe this Warriors team can be a frisky playoff out in the West.
More NBA News:
Lakers' LeBron James, Mavericks' Anthony Davis Will Play as Teammates Again
Top 5 Potential NBA Buyout Market Players
Grizzlies Trading Marcus Smart to Wizards in Blockbuster Deal
Cavaliers Land De'Andre Hunter in Blockbuster Trade with Hawks
Suns Acquire Cody Martin from Hornets in Massive Jusuf Nurkic Trade
For more NBA news and rumors, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports.
)
)
English (US) ·