After Kevin Durant Deal Falls Through, Warriors Trade For Jimmy Butler In Four-Team Deal

The Golden State Warriors completed a four-team trade Wednesday night to acquire star forward Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. Butler will reportedly sign a two-year, $121 million extension with Golden State, cementing a long-term partnership with Steph Curry.

The Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz were also included in the trade. To get Butler, Golden State sent away Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick. Reports suggest that the Warriors were originally in talks to make a similarly splashy trade with the Suns for Kevin Durant, but Durant reportedly shot down the deal. 

Butler’s trade to the Warriors finally ends months of rapid speculation and drama connected to Butler’s future. The Heat suspended him twice in January while stating publicly that it would not trade him, but tensions seemed to grow stronger each week. With Butler’s free agency looming, it became imperative for Miami to get something by ending the relationship that had long gone sour. 

With a 25-24 record, Miami is in line for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, and Butler’s extended absences this season suggest that the team can compete without him. Still, losing a star player in the middle of the season will certainly limit the team when playoffs begin in the spring.

Butler’s extension with the Warriors suggests that he believes he has landed on a playoff contender, even as Curry struggles to keep them competitive in the midst of a minor rebuild. Golden State is currently 25-25, 11th in the Western Conference, struggling to perform consistently despite several big wins.

Losing Wiggins, Schroder and Anderson shakes up the Warriors’ roster in a meaningful way, but Butler could be a key contributor down the stretch. Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney all survived the expansive trade and should continue to thrive in supporting roles.