The search for a second star in Golden State has finally come to an end. For weeks, rumors about the Warriors’ plans to add another star alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were making the rounds. None of them came to pass until the Miami Heat answered the phone.
Now, Jimmy Butler is moving to The Bay in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schröder, Kyle Anderson, and a protected first-round pick — Lindy Waters III was also moved as part of the deal. Sitting down for a media session after a disappointing loss to the Utah Jazz, Curry spoke about the trade and Golden State’s season so far in depth.
Stephen Curry Has One Goal in Mind
The Warriors have been trying to extend their competitive window with Curry at the helm. Ever since Kevin Durant left, the team hasn’t been the same dominant force it once was. However, it worked for them in 2022 when they were able to pull out a miraculous run to win their fourth Championship in nine seasons.
Since then, the team has been in free fall, bowing out in the second round before missing the playoffs altogether last season. This year, they went with a different approach and even let Klay Thompson walk in free agency.
However, since the move didn’t go according to plan, they had to change strategies and go after another superstar. Sitting down with reporters for the first time since the trade, Curry was excited about getting Butler on the team.
Steph Curry: “We expect to have a motivated, committed Jimmy that’s ready to impact our team for the better.”
The two texted at halftime of the Warriors game tonight, Curry said. Curry’s excited to get to work with Butler.
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) February 6, 2025
“We expect to have a motivated, committed Jimmy that’s ready to impact our team for the better.” Over the last four seasons, Butler has made it to two NBA Finals and three Eastern Conference Finals on a Miami Heat team that hasn’t been anywhere near the favorites.
His playoff exploits are already the stuff of legend and the only unanimous MVP in NBA history understands the pressure it brings to add a piece like that to the squad.
“Biggest thing is just it creates expectations, which I love. I want to be in that kind of environment, whether you get it done or not, that is meaningful basketball that we all love and thrive in. I think we’re all going to be up for the challenge.”
Curry on adding Butler: "Biggest thing is just it creates expectations, which I love. I want to be in that kind of environment, whether you get it done or not, that is meaningful basketball that we all love and thrive in. I think we're all going to be up for the challenge."
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) February 6, 2025
However, it isn’t just sunshine and rainbows in the Warriors locker room. Parting ways with four teammates, especially one who was around for close to four years and won a Championship as well was taking its toll on Curry.
“You been around this league long enough, you see a lot. Even so, that was a new situation for sure just because of all the talks that had been going on for the last week. Until the front office pulls the trigger, you don’t necessarily believe that something is going to happen, especially with the guys that were part of the deal.
“I’m glad of the way we did it. To have that moment with our team in the locker room and just us talking to Wigs [Andrew Wiggins], especially with all the time he’s been here, what he meant to our team and our franchise, to help us climb the mountain top back again in ’22.”
Steph Curry on saying goodbye to Andrew Wiggins, others leaving in the Jimmy Butler trade: pic.twitter.com/A5cYOuUT2f
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) February 6, 2025
In that run, Wiggins was the second All-Star on the team, having a career renaissance playing alongside Curry, Thompson, and Jordan Poole. His excellent perimeter defense paved the way for a top-10 unit in basketball, and he was even in contention for Finals MVP for the first four games of that series.
“He changed a lot for us, for the better. With his experience with us, changed a lot for him as well. He’s got a lot of basketball left in him, obviously.”
Then, he spoke about his other three teammates, who had joined the squad this offseason. “For Kyle, Dennis, and Lindy [Waters III, shipped to the Utah Jazz as part of the deal], who are newcomers, they committed to the mission. They were all ultimate professionals, showed up every day, worked where they were supposed to.”
But with rumors of a trade swirling for weeks on end, the four-time NBA champion was honest about how the locker room felt. “It was an uncomfortable situation all the way around, trying to figure out what our team was going to be like.”
