The Golden State Warriors are rolling, and Jimmy Butler is right in the middle of the fun even while he’s stuck on the sideline.
Golden State has won eight straight, the mood around the group is soaring, and Butler leaned all the way into the moment Monday night by dressing like an assistant coach. He was at the board drawing up plays like “pass it to Steph,” and the Warriors followed the script as Curry delivered and the hosts handled the lowly New Orleans Pelicans.
That little bench act says plenty about where this team is right now. It can be easy to laugh it off as Butler just messing around, but it also points to a group that genuinely enjoys being around each other.
When the Warriors first landed Butler, there was at least some concern that he and Draymond Green - two huge personalities - might clash. That hasn’t happened.
Instead, the fit has looked smooth, and Butler’s relationship with Curry has stood out too. He has been the main guy in other stops during his long NBA career, but here he has embraced being Robin to Curry’s Batman, which says a lot about the way he’s approached this team.
Even with a torn ACL keeping him out, Butler is still finding ways to contribute. He likely won’t be back until January or February at the earliest, but his return could be a major lift if Golden State is still healthy and playing well when that time comes. That’s a long way off, and plenty can change between now and then, but the upside is obvious.
For the moment, Butler can keep playing the jester on the bench while also offering real value behind the scenes. He’s already giving support and mentorship to younger players like Yaxel Lendeborg, and that matters. He may not be on the floor, but he still has a role to play with his voice, his experience, and the kind of guidance teams need from an elder statesman.
Whether the “Coach Jimmy” bit lasts or not, the bigger point is clear: the Warriors are winning, they’re having fun, and Butler is helping keep that energy alive.
In Other News...
Jimmy Butler's Rehab Just Raised A New Warriors Question
Jimmy Butlers recovery from a torn ACL has already become one of the more closely watched storylines around Golden State, and his latest step has only added another layer to it. Butler has said he wants to get into a G League game for the Santa Cruz Warriors before he makes his way back to the Warriors lineup, a plan that would give him a live-game test in a lower-pressure setting as he works his way through rehab.
For Golden State, the idea is intriguing because it would offer a clearer bridge between the training room and the NBA floor, but it still depends on medical clearance from the teams staff. Steve Kerr has welcomed the possibility, though it remains unclear whether the Santa Cruz appearance would become an official part of Butlers rehabilitation path, leaving the Warriors with one more question to sort out as his return draws closer. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Trade Need Suddenly Feels Real After Curry Injury
Stephen Currys oblique injury has changed the temperature around Golden State almost overnight, turning a roster conversation into something far more urgent. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that the Warriors are now looking at potential trade targets such as Wendell Carter Jr. and Naz Reid as they try to steady a frontcourt that suddenly looks thinner than expected.
Carter has been performing well this season for the Orlando Magic, and the idea of adding a player with a similar profile to Kristaps Porzingis gives the Warriors a clearer sense of the type of move they may be chasing. For now, though, it remains speculative, with any real path forward depending on negotiations between Golden State and Orlando, and on how aggressively the Warriors decide to respond to Currys absence. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A New Trade Problem In Porzingis Pursuit
The NBAs draft lottery reform has quietly changed the trade market, and it may be making life harder for the Warriors as they try to sort through a Kristaps Porzingis pursuit. With the incentive to bottom out reduced, fewer low-performing teams are eager to move veteran pieces, which means the usual pool of sellers is thinner than it once was. For Golden State, that can turn a straightforward search for a deal into a much narrower hunt.
So the Warriors may have to look elsewhere for a workable path, and that likely means teams dealing with financial pressure rather than teams chasing the lottery. The Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic stand out as possible partners in that kind of framework, but the broader point is clear: this is no longer just about finding a team willing to trade, it is about finding one with the right mix of need and flexibility. [Read more 🡒]