The trade sending Jimmy Butler to the Warriors can be considered a backup plan for both parties, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. The Suns were Butler’s first choice and Golden State was hoping to reacquire Kevin Durant, but Durant had no interest in returning to the Bay Area, dousing any hopes for a three-team deal.
The Warriors paid what they believe is a “modest” price for Butler, according to Slater, parting with Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schröder (who’s going to Utah), Lindy Waters (headed to Detroit), and a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2025. Sources tell Slater that Golden State’s front office doesn’t mind giving up the draft choice because it wasn’t excited about any of the prospects in the late lottery and beyond.
Slater considers the riskiest part of the deal for the Warriors to be the two-year, $111MM extension they gave Butler to make sure he’s happy in his new home. Because Butler declined his $52.4MM player option for next season, Golden State essentially added on one year at $58MM and gave him a contract that will expire at the same time as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
“Him signing an extension is big,” Curry said. “Knowing he’s committed for this next little run … I know there was a lot of drama down there (in Miami). Who really knows what the story is? We expect to have a motivated, committed Jimmy. I can put myself in his shoes. He’s been away from the game for a minute. He’s been frustrated for whatever reason. When you get into a situation that’s a fresh start, it establishes expectations that we’re all used to that we need to win. We all thrive off that energy.”
That financial commitment will likely result in at least two more years of high tax bills. Slater hears that the Warriors are willing to pay a “pricey figure” to re-sign Jonathan Kuminga, who will be a restricted free agent this summer.
There’s more on the Warriors:
- News of the Butler trade broke shortly before the start of Wednesday’s game at Utah, which created an awkward situation. As Slater describes, coach Steve Kerr gathered his players in the locker room after warmups and informed them of the impending deal. He found it extremely difficult to break the news to Wiggins. “Wiggs is one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached,” Kerr said. “Just a beautiful soul. Just a wonderful human being. We don’t hang that banner in (2022) without him. Everything he brings every day, the laughter, the smile, the joy. I’m gonna miss him.”
- Green’s name was floated in trade rumors as the Warriors explored the possibility of reacquiring Durant, but he tells Slater that he never checked with the front office to see if he might be dealt. “I always talk to (general manager Mike Dunleavy). But, no, what’s going to happen is going to happen,” Green said. “Ninety-five percent of the things you worry about never come true. If (I did get traded), then it just is what it is. My worries ain’t stopping it. So I wasn’t worried at all. I’ve been in a place of uncertainty overall. But what’s going to be is going to be. To sit and worry about it, this life is hard enough to worry about what you can’t control.”
- Green stated that he has no concerns about playing alongside Butler despite their sharp personalities, Slater adds. Kevon Looney points out that Green has co-existed with other strong-willed players such as DeMarcus Cousins, Chris Paul, David West, Andre Iguodala and more. “Guys like that who are dogs, alpha males, they respect other people like that,” Looney said. “They kind of stay out of each other’s way. Draymond is a great connector. He’s a great leader. He makes things happen on the floor and off the court.”
- An ESPN panel looks at how the trade will affect both the Warriors and the Heat, and is unanimous in believing that Golden State might not be Butler’s last NBA stop.
“Green has co-existed…” you know that’s either going to go really good (since they are both headaches) or really bad between Green and Butler
He usually gets along with ultra competitive a**holes because theyre just like him
Butler gets really tired of teams really quickly (see Chicago after thibodeau, minnesota, this season)
Wouldn’t be surprised if green slaps butler in practice (and takes no blame) and butler gets traded next season
The Butler trade is a hail mary by the warriors hoping they can catch lightning in a bottle or put the team back a few years. I wish Heat wanted Green not Wiggins. Another unnecessary T by Green last night. No Wiggins meant no defense in the loss.
Green was in more demand than Wiggins. If they wanted off him they could have. That reffing was insane though like over turning the 3pt shot by Curry.
The problem is the organization does everything around Curry
Curry hasn’t exactly done many favors for the warriors since they could’ve resigned klay if curry took a little pay cut
But every single million in his huge contract can’t be touched
None of the guys listed is anything like Butler lmao
Best butler behavior comp is Jordan Poole and we know how the Poole Green relationship panned out.
Jordan Poole is like Jimmy Butler? That’s wild.
Poole and Butler are not remotely alike where Draymond is concerned.
First, Jimmy weighs 235 lbs, Poole 190 lbs. Draymond doesn’t bully people unless they’re a lot smaller.
Second, Draymond knows Jimmy won’t take any s**t. And vice versa. That may eventually lead to violence, but bith guys will be throwing.
Poole’s no alpha. Draymond and Butler are highly confrontational.
This Draymonds a bully that picks on little guys talk is BS. He nut shot Steven Adams. If there was one person in the NBA I would not want to f*** with its Steven f***ing Adams.
Plus putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock (overreaction), karate chopping Jusuf Nurkic in the neck (literally with no provocation), stomping on Domantas Sabonis’ chest (bruh), nut-shotting LeBron James…
Face it, Draymond would pick a fight with God if he thought he could get away with it. He’s a natural-born instigator.
Lmfao. Facts.
Could be a future celebrity boxing match which I would put money on Adams.
Bullying is a persistent pattern of aggression against somebody with lesser ability to fight back. It doesn’t have to be physical or violent, although the fact the bully is bigger often enables it.
Sure, Draymond is courageous and won’t back down against bigger guys. But he’s also a bully. Both things can be true.
I agree. Why the owner is OK with it is the problem. Seems like the warriors are run now on nostalgia instead of about winning. This was not MDJs trade but Lacob trade.
I like how you always explain basic concepts to everyone.
Thank God you’re here.
Butler is compless. He’s like Harrison Barnes+15%
No one like that in the league.
Yeah “alphas” are a joke in pretty much every variety. They don’t respect each other they know that if they get into pissing contest with another a**hole they both lose. Their entire persona is built on bullying others into agreeing with them or fighting them. In short anybody with even an ounce of genuine emotional IQ know alphas are just a bad joke. The “respect” is only in their own minds or people who believe they’re one good break from becoming “alphas” themselves. It doesn’t matter the sun has set on Butler and Green at this point.
@dejota realest post ever in here. We even see this type of person in these comments, usually bullying 1 on 1 or gangstalking singular posters as a group, instead of being a normal person and muting them.
The trade was a good trade and we didn’t give up much to make it happen!! I wouldn’t mind get Vuch from Chicago it would be huge
I bet if the warriors were willing to trade draymond then KD would’ve been willing to come back
Keep in mind that what if talks restart in the off-season where jimmy still wants to get traded to phoenix and KD gets pissed at the suns doing nothing in the playoffs
If GSW fired Kerr there would be a stampede of superstars banging down the doors begging to play with Steph. Kerr however, is hated by everyone because he is bad at his job.
“Slater considers the riskiest part of the deal for the Warriors to be the two-year, $111MM extension they gave Butler…”
Thanks, Captain Obvious!