Jimmy Butler continues to make a positive impact after being traded from Miami to Golden State. The Warriors are now 5-1 since they acquired the six-time All-Star, with their latest victory coming on Sunday in a blowout of the shorthanded Mavericks.
Former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green said during All-Star weekend that he expects to win his fifth title with Golden State this spring. Asked to explain that statement, Green made it clear that Butler was the team’s “missing piece,” according to Marcus Thompson II and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
“I just know what it looks like,” Green told The Athletic. “This team all year has been kind of like, ‘Man, we’re right there, but can’t quite get over the hump.’ But there’s a reason that you feel like you’re right there, but can’t quite get over.
“And the reason I think we all thought we couldn’t quite get over was because there was a missing piece. That piece isn’t missing anymore. That piece is him.”
While some key members of the Warriors were reportedly leery of adding Butler, who has had messy exits with multiple franchises, Green was not among that group. A team source tells The Athletic that the veteran forward/center wanted the front office to add another “a–hole” to the roster.
“Jimmy almost won the championship leading the team — twice,” Green said of Butler, who signed a two-year, maximum-salary extension with the Warriors as part of the trade. “So he just needed a little bit more to get over the hump. I think we needed a little more to get over the hump. You combine those two together, and this one guy with an undying passion and wants to win a championship. It’s like burning for that.
“And then there are some guys who have done it before but are burning to f—ing do it at least one more time. You mix the two together with the know-how — because Jimmy knows how. Obviously, we know how. And what you get is what everybody’s going to see.”
For his part, Butler said he wasn’t aware of Green’s championship proclamation. While Butler didn’t make a bold postseason prediction like his teammate, he said the Warriors aren’t lacking in self-belief.
“I don’t pay attention to social (media), so I didn’t know that (Green) said that,” Butler said. “But we do have a chance. And the reason why is not because I’m here. It’s not because of the energy that I may or may not bring. It’s because everybody thinks that we can win. That’s all that matters.
“If everybody thinks that you can do something, then you can do it. I’m not going to say how it was before I was here. I don’t know. I wasn’t here. But when you go around this locker room, and you see the joy, and you see the excitement that everybody gets to hoop and play basketball with one another, we really think, and we really know, that every time we take the floor, we should win — home or away. That’s the difference-maker in this thing.”
Despite their recent run of strong play, the Warriors are still only the No. 9 seed in the West, with a record of 30-27. However, they’re only 1.5 games behind the Clippers, who currently hold the No. 6 seed — Golden State is eyeing that spot for a guaranteed playoff berth, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
As Slater writes, Butler has helped the Warriors not just improve but thrive when Stephen Curry is off the court, which has been an issue all season long. The 35-year-old has also brought out the best in Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody, who have been starting of late alongside Butler, Green and Curry.
“You can tell our fans see the difference,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “They feel the momentum just like we do. It was an important shift. The trade itself — I think I mentioned this after the Sacramento game — we needed it. We felt it. We were kind of treading water. We couldn’t get any traction in the season, and (GM) Mike (Dunleavy) sensed it and made the move. Sometimes you’ve got to shake things up, and we shook things up. It just so happened that one of the best players in the league was available.”
2 weeks have gone by, and it feels impossible that GSW gave up so little to get Butler.
In Wiggins, a good, but not great, player that Butler directly replaces and a protected FRP. And none of their young core.
They gave up the near exact package heat gave up to land a younger butler
Heat gave up josh Richardson, Hassan whiteside ( similar bad contract to Kyle Anderson ) and a protected first rd pick
Sixers to get him just gave up Robert Covington, Dario saric, Jared bayless and a second rd pick !
After his bulls trade he’s done a good job of wrecking his current teams leverage
That’s fine until he pulls his next disgruntled act again which takes about 2-3 years to occur. Though that’s probably the end of curry’s window anyway so maybe it’ll work out.
asfsooner02 – you got it: this Jimmy gig lasts 2.3 seasons. After that, not only is his contract up, but to are Steph’s and Draymond’s.
@afsooner02 – it has 100% when Jimmy needs a bag. Paywalling “Playoffs Jimmy” is a masterstroke by him in the long game to ensure he keeps getting major money.
Wiggins is easily replaceable but there are only 10 guys in the league like Butler. I’m still pinching myself. And Butler is at his best in the POSTSEASON folks. He’s just warming up…. Go Warriors !!!!!!!
5-1 is a bit misleading
They beat the 22-31 bulls at the time
Beat a bucks team minus Giannis
Beat a Rockets team minus Van Vleet
Beat a rudderless Kings team sinking fast defensively since the Fox trade
Beat a Mavericks team thats gone 2-3 since Doncic and Davis swap and short handed as the article states.
Agreed, but its the manner in which they have taken care of business
Coming out early, taking control of the game early and more importantly not giving it back like they were before the trade . And for the first time this whole year it feels like they actually have some order in their rotations that makes sense.
Post has also provided better quality mins than TJD and even Looney has provided sumthing lately outta the 5 spot which was a complete dead zone their first 40+ games
Pretty easy to do when teams are missing star players or dealing with depth issues. It’s like a varsity team celebrating beating the jv team.
If it were so easy to do, why weren’t they doing it? They were struggling before for wins. Now they aren’t. They are having fun and dominating. This is completely different team.
Taking care of business is a BIG part of regular season NBA, lets not discount teams for….. you know….doing just that
The tests will come, but don’t act like stacking wins today doesn’t matter significantly
**Lakers would be solely in 2nd place rn if they didn’t lose to Cha and Utah last week, but they did, so they aren’t, and they earned that demerit 100% b/c of it
I bet you didn’t say that about the warriors when they were losing without Kuminga and Podz. Curry, moody, and Green hurt. Playing their 2 way player a lot of games. health is a big reason teams win.
Here it is folks: the first piece of cope about GSW continuing on their dynasty.
I’m surprised Scarlett-boy isn’t on here saying that the Warriors were better with Wiggins. The obvious improved play and wins aren’t worth it. They need Wiggins back.
Getting Kuminga back is going to feel like a trade in February.
He’s gotta lock in and bring his energy. Play like Santos, Podz, Butler. Think defnse first, hustle, fight for every loose ball and rebounds. Only one stat matters now – WINS. And he shall get paid at season end.
The only issue is
Kuminga and Hield are just not good. If both are good, Warriors are a title contender
Moody and Pod have improved
Butler is always at the right place in the right time
Kuminga and Hield lack of wisdom
You are not wrong. They are the KEY. Hopefully, Hield will catch fire like he did to start the season.
Missing piece for what? Dynasty is over.
He’s the missing piece for the Warriors getting an 8 seed and winning a game in the first round.
Getting to the play in and losing both games.
funny coming from a celtics fan.
You wish that was true.
MY question to @windmill_noise…. how are you -personally- going to handle Steph winning more rings than Lebron? I feel like it might cause a lot of NBA fans to do self-harm. Please dont do that! Its just ball!!!
Why aren’t Warriors bringing in every hig available. Mo is out therr. Dude I’d bring in Howard and chk him iut. Brown is about to be let go by Mavs. I would be there waiting for him when his 10 day is over. Numbers is better than nothing.
You know why Jimmy impacts winning. Cause he is best 2way player still. I told you DirtyDra would love him. He truly understands what Jimmy does. Warriors have to protect their core. You fo that by bringing in bigs. 15-25 mins. Why are you going to put that pressure on your forwards.
Why don’t the Lakers go after Bamba? Maybe he doesn’t have the talent…It is kinda difficult to fit a new player in for 15-25 minutes a night at this point.
Talent has never been the issue with Bamba.
The. Bucks have been mentioned as a home for him with Portis out.
All you need us defense and rebounding. Opens up Dra and Jimmy on D. But its been all year for Warriors. 10-15 are not getting mins. But are there for emergency. You practice with team. You can play 15 mins. Lakers should too. But at least they have Hayes.
They are playing defense and rebounding. That hasn’t been their problem.
Al – seriously? Have you been following the team? There isn’t anybody than you who thinks GSW needs another C right now, especially the usual rejects.
They have 3 centers on the roster and Draymond, who plays half the game at the 5. The three C’s get used situationally. Quentin Post is the surprise of the year as a 7” stretch big. Looney and TJD are vastly superior defensively to any players you mention
Moses Brown is trash. (We saw him play yesterday against the Dallas, and he proved that again.) GSW has passed on Bamba many times over the years.
Wemby, Giannis, AD, JJJ, SGA, and a few other guys might disagree with you on who is the best 2 way player.
I don’t have the patience or the crayons to explain this to you ……. short version
Two aren’t even playing. One is not even best defender on his team. And none have the IQ or time put in. To be compared to Jimmy. But why would you care. You think you got game. I will make it painful clear you don’t. You are
The Dunning-Kruger Effect ……. affects no one lol.
Al, I gotta say it’s rich to hear you accuse someone of Dunning-Kruger!
Do you really believe you’ve ever said anything that makes us believe you know better than all these front offices you ridicule?
If you’re so smart, why the need to tell everyone else they’re not? Maybe you’re just another fan, like the rest of us.
@al – your answer is “Steve Kerr idiotically can only coach guys under 6’5”
If Draymond said it, you know it’s true.
New media don’t lie
Maybe you should look at the game results.
Throttle back Buddy
Draymond definitely knows about missing a few pieces.
Draymond gotta keep bending the knee to the great Jimmy Butler…
Never know when he’ll decide he wants to go to another team…