Amidst a rough stretch of basketball for the Golden State Warriors, where they went 4-13 to plummet to .500 at 17-16, rumors about the direction of the franchise have been flying around. There were whispers of a complete rebuild because of Stephen Curry‘s supposed “lack of optimism” about the team. Others argued they should make an aggressive trade to compete with this core before Curry retires. Some even hoped that the legend would be traded elsewhere for a last chance at championship contention. However, this team isn’t dead yet with 49 games left. The same squad that went 12-3 to open the campaign is still in there, with room to improve.
Vintage Curry Outing Proves Warriors Should Trade For Butler
In what was perhaps a release of pent-up frustration, Steph delivered a vintage Curry outing in a recent game. During a 34-point drubbing of the Philadelphia 76ers, the Chef cooked up a perfect 8-for-8 from three, dropping 30 points and 10 assists on 11 of 15 from the field. Their domination of a Philly team with their big three resembled the group from the start of the season.
Curry’s reminder that he still has elite basketball left in him should also be a call to action for the front office. If they’re not going to trade away the sharpshooter and start a complete rebuild, they must endeavor to improve the current roster. The most glaring need for GS is a second scorer to take the pressure off of Curry. With Lauri Markkanen off the market, there are very few star options left.
Luckily, one of the superstars appeared to become available for real after the Miami Heat’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. Jimmy Butler essentially requested a trade in his postgame press conference by saying “he can’t feel joy playing for Miami.” It remains to be seen whether Pat Riley will continue playing hardball with his star player, but the situation is becoming untenable for everyone involved.
ESPN story with @WindhorstESPN: Jimmy Butler has indicated to the Miami Heat that he wants the team to trade him and is open to playing anywhere other than Miami.https://t.co/6BovsL2qdi
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 3, 2025
Is There A Realistic Trade For Both Teams?
A Deal Centered Around Wiggins and Kuminga Is Possible
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement makes in-season trades much more difficult than in the past. Teams have much less flexibility to bring in expensive contracts, but certain deals are still possible. Nevertheless, the Warriors have often been mentioned as a landing spot for Butler.
Golden State and Miami could get a deal done involving Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, and salary filler. Butler makes $48.8M, while Wiggins and Kuminga are owed $33.8M. Mike Dunleavy would have to include a couple more salaries to make the trade work. Dennis Schroder ($13M), Gary Payton ($9.1M), and Buddy Hield ($8.7M) are all good options with decent trade value.
If Butler is going to force Riley’s hand with off-court antics and a refusal to commit to the team, this deal at least brings back several valuable assets to South Beach. Wiggins is a tradable piece with upside, and Kuminga is a blossoming young star with endless potential.
Butler Fits Well In Golden State
The 35-year-old is a different type of player than Curry has teamed up with before but fixes the Dubs’ biggest problem. Bringing in someone who can carry the load without Curry is their only chance of competing for a title.
Butler is also a proven winner who gives everything to his team when engaged. He’ll fit very well into their dynastic culture and embrace the high demands they put on all of their players. A trio of Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green is very formidable and gives the Warriors a fighting shot in the West. If they want to hang onto this era a little longer, the Warriors should trade for Jimmy Butler.
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