Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler has once again found a new NBA team after the Miami Heat traded the small forward to the Golden State Warriors. The Heat granted their disgruntled star’s trade request, finalizing a deal to send him to the Warriors to join sharpshooter Steph Curry.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Miami has finalized a deal to send Butler to the Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schröder, Kyle Anderson, and a protected first-round pick.
Butler has been named to the All-NBA Team five times and the All-Defensive Team five times. He won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2014-15. Butler was also a 2016 U.S. Olympic team member that won a gold medal. Now, he has the opportunity to help the Warriors climb the Western Conference standings.
Which Team Is the Winner and Loser in the Jimmy Butler Trade?
This trade marks Butler’s fifth NBA team, and he still has not left one cleanly. He was traded from the Chicago Bulls after clashing with head coach Fred Hoiberg. Also, he was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves after similar clashes with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. He jumped to the Miami Heat after the Philadelphia 76ers chose Tobias Harris over him.
Now, he has the opportunity to help the Warriors climb the Western Conference standings.
Who won this blockbuster deal, the Warriors or the Heat?
Winner: Golden State Warriors
BREAKING: The Miami Heat are finalizing a deal to send Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/82mWHKCnVM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
The Warriors won this blockbuster trade, locking another superstar to link with Curry and Draymond Green. Warriors guard Lindy Waters III and Heat forward Josh Richardson will join the Detroit Pistons as part of the deal. Additionally, Schröder will be rerouted to the Jazz, and Kyle Anderson will head to Toronto, effectively adding two more teams to the agreement.
According to Charania, Butler has agreed to a two-year extension with the Warriors to keep him with the team through 2026-27 — the deal will pay him $121 million.
The Warriors hold the last playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 25-24 record. Outside of Curry, the Warriors have struggled on the offensive end, ranking 19th with an offensive rating of 111.6. Butler can help in that category and provide strong defense on the other end. Through 25 games this season, he’s averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.
Golden State is in win-now mode, and Butler can put them back on top.
Losers: Miami Heat
After several successful postseason runs, Butler’s tenure with the Heat ended in tumult, and he was suspended multiple times.
The draft pick has not been released, but Charania reported it is protected. The Heat want to maintain their status as a win-now team instead of a rebuild, as it took back primarily useable assets in Wiggins and a first-round pick in the deal. It’s a solid trade for a player who barely played this season for the Heat.
Miami suspended Butler three times this season, twice for conduct detrimental to the team and once after he missed a team flight. His most recent suspension began on Jan. 27 after he left the shootaround following news that he would be coming off the bench for Miami’s next game. The Heat announced that the indefinite suspension would last at least five games, which took things up to Thursday’s deadline.
This trade finally ends Butler’s drawn-out divorce from the Heat, giving Miami an internal win. The trade seems to have worked out for both teams, as Butler got his extension, and Golden State added a proven, win-now forward alongside Curry and Green.
