The Jimmy Butler era in Golden State has been very underwhelming to say the least. On one hand, it was a great idea to bring in another all-star to play alongside Stephen Curry, especially his playstyle, as it helped the Warriors get to the free-throw line more often. On the other hand, he has only been available for one playoff run, and the extension they signed him to has been one of the worst in the league. Butler might not have cost Golden State much to acquire, but in hindsight, he’s cost them a ton, and many people think this move was a negative for the franchise.
The veteran is going on his third season with the team, but will most likely miss all of this upcoming season as he tore his ACL late last season. With this being his last year on his deal, it means his most impactful season with the team was his first season with them, which wasn’t even a full season. Butler was traded to the Warriors in a five-team trade at the 2024 trade deadline. The 36-year-old played 68 games in the regular season for the Warriors, and they have a 46-22 record when he’s on the floor, but he missed 44 games this past season.
Trade details between Heat and Warriors:
Golden State Warriors Acquire:
Miami Heat Acquire:
Prior to his injury this past season, he was having quite the year, as he averaged 20 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game on great shooting splits of 51.9% from the floor, 37.6% from three, and 86.4% from the free-throw line. The only downside was that he only played 38 games. Golden State needs some serious help alongside Curry, as he is nearing the end of his career, but is still very capable of being the first option on a championship team. They would love to get off of the Butler contract, but that will be difficult as he’s set to make $56.8 million this season, and will probably not play a single minute.
Teams aren’t necessarily lining up for a player that will be 37 years old at the start of next season, takes up a large portion of their salary cap, and won’t play for them. The Warriors are going to have to keep him on the roster and pray that he’s able to recover quickly enough to at least return for the playoffs.
That’s if they can make it to the playoffs in the first place, as they haven’t made many improvements to the roster besides drafting Yaxel Lendeborg, who played well for them in summer league. Overall, this trade deserves a C grade, and the only reason it’s that high is that Golden State needed to add another star next to Curry. The downside is, it didn’t last long, and injuries alone are the reason this trade didn’t work out for them.
With that being said, the trade might have been worth it at the time, but now that we know how it has played out, it was not worth it for the Warriors. Other than helping his team make it to the Western Conference semifinals in 2024, it has been short-lived. Golden State will have a tough time competing in the Western Conference, and that’s not what you want, as Curry’s career is coming to a close. The front office definitely wishes they could undo this trade, as it hasn’t brought what they were hoping for.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
