The Golden State Warriors may not be done reworking the Jimmy Butler situation just because the offseason has passed.
After missing on the big-name upgrades they hoped to land, Golden State was left to run it back instead of giving Mike Dunleavy Jr. the kind of roster boost the team was chasing. That could still change before the next trade deadline, and Butler’s name is now sitting right in the middle of that conversation.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on ‘The Hoop Collective’ that Butler’s contract could become part of a deal if the right player becomes available.
“I know there’s been a whole bunch of discussion dating back to last trade deadline about Jimmy Butler,” said Windhorst on ‘The Hoop Collective.’ “Him coming off the ACL, he could function as a huge expiring contract in a trade.
I don’t think that’s what they’re operating with day-to-day. But if a player/acquisition comes to the four, they could use that.”
That idea exists because Butler is now out after tearing his ACL in January, and his $56.8 million expiring contract gives Golden State a very different kind of flexibility if it chooses to move him. He has reportedly been making quick progress in his recovery, and some reports say he could be back before February’s trade deadline. Even so, that may not line up with what the Warriors need.
Butler was brought in to be the kind of co-star Steph Curry could lean on, and when he was healthy last season, he delivered. Before the injury, he was putting up 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.9% from the field.
The problem for Golden State is timing. Curry is in the twilight of his career, and the Warriors don’t have the luxury of waiting around for Butler to get healthy and settle back in. If there’s a way to turn that contract into immediate help and clear salary in the process, the front office may be tempted.
That kind of move would open up real roster flexibility. With $56 million coming off the books, the Warriors could reshape the team in a major way, similar to how the Lakers adjusted after LeBron James’ departure. The exact target would depend on who becomes available, but names such as Myles Turner or Anthony Davis have been floated as examples of the level Golden State could chase.
Of course, moving Butler would mean cutting ties with a player who has embraced the franchise. It’s not the cleanest outcome, but it might be the most practical one if the Warriors want to stay in the hunt and squeeze one more title window out of the Steph Curry era.
If they don’t find the right deal, Golden State will be forced to ride out the first half of the season without Butler and hope he’s ready to contribute once he returns. For now, the Warriors don’t sound eager to rush anything. They likely won’t move Butler unless the offer brings back a bona fide star who can help immediately.
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