Butler to the Warriors: The Trade That Could Shake the NBA: Miami Heat Star Could Be Heading to Golden State
Jimmy Butler’s name has been doing the rounds of the trade rumor mill for quite some time now. His future with the Miami Heat and understandably so.
It was widely reported in the summer that Butler wanted a max contract extension but the Heat did not hand him one as they wanted him to prove his fitness on the court before making a long-term commitment on a 35-year-old with a history of injuries.
Butler has had a stop-start season so far. He is a matchwinner on his day but continues to deal with fitness issues and has already spent a few spells out on the sidelines.
On the other hand, it has also been suggested by some that he is planning to turn down his player option to become a free agent next summer.
Naturally, the Heat might be considering the possibility of trading Butler. And it looks like one team is emerging as the favorite in that race.
According to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, the Golden State Warriors should absolutely be labeled as the favorites to trade for Butler. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he will 100 percent be heading to the Bay Area before this season’s trade deadline.
Of course, it is quite clear that the Warriors need to strengthen if they are to put up a genuine Championship challenge while Steph Curry is still the face of the franchise.
The Warriors had actually made a brilliant start to the season and were sitting atop the West at one point. But their form has drastically declined in recent weeks and they look like a play-in team at best right now.
All things considered, it feels like the Warriors need some star power alongside Curry and Draymond Green. A proven playoff performer like Butler might bring that to the table for them.
But at the same time, it would be the ultimate ‘win now’ move from the Warriors, who might need to part with three or four players just to accommodate a contract of that size on their roster.
