Heat Lower Price on Jimmy Butler, Put Warriors Back in Trade Talks

There are several high-profile names on the current NBA trade market, but none are as close to as big as Jimmy Butler. The Heat star is one of the most dynamic two-way players in the league, and has proven to be incredibly clutch time and time again.

(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

While the Heat were happy to have him during their past playoff runs, he’s clearly not going to play for them anymore. Following a seven-game suspension for misconduct, they suspended him indefinitely after he walked out of a shootaround following news that he would be benched.

That doesn’t necessarily mean they will trade him, but reports from both inside and outside the organization state he’s all but gone. That’s big news because there are many franchises interested in Butler, with many others not willing to act until they see where he lands.

Butler might have some issues with Miami, but he’s clearly still one of the best guards in basketball. There are several fringe teams who would instantly become serious contenders with him on their roster. The Warriors are one such franchise.

While the team quickly fell out of earlier trade conversations due to the high price Butler would command, reports state they might be back in it.

A More Affordable Deal

The Warriors are perhaps the team that could use Butler the most. Getting another scorer alongside Stephen Curry would be huge for their offense, and his defensive tenacity would become incredibly handy down the stretch.

However, the Warriors have stated many times they won’t win now at the expense of their future. They have plenty of draft picks and high profile names, but losing a lot of those pieces is not something they’re willing to do.

With that information, it seemed Butler was not fated to land in Golden State. Now, things have changed. The Heat have reportedly lowered their asking price in trade talks due to the past suspension. They want to get a deal done by the trade deadline, and are willing to bend over in order to make it happen.

Not only does that mean they may be willing to take less, but they are also much more willing to pay his salary past 2025-26 as long as it’s not too much money. That’s huge news for the Warriors, who want to lower their risk as much as possible.

One of the Best

Butler is currently in the second season of his three year contract that has $146 million in guarantees. On top of that, he has a $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season, and will likely seek a max extension in the coming years.

The Heat refused to pay that for the aging player, which initially sparked his conflict with the team. From there, things only got worse. While the Warriors surely won’t pay that either, they could take on his current earnings if the Heat get involved.

The reason they would do that is, despite the controversies, Butler is having a strong season. In the games he’s played, he’s averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 30.6 minutes. Playing with the likes of Curry would certainly only raise those numbers.

Having both guards on the same team would certainly breathe new life into a Warriors team that has become stagnant over the past month. They’ve fallen out of the playoff picture and are in serious trouble of their season coming to an early end.

Landing Butler wouldn’t fix all of their issues, but it would almost certainly make them a playoff contender. They are only a few games back right now, and it wouldn’t take much to save their season. That’s why a potential deal is so important.

Finding the Right Salary

On paper, Butler to the Warriors just makes sense. Even so, there are a few hurdles that the team needs to clear if they do want it to happen. The biggest is that the Warriors are currently right up against the hard cap and would need to match his $49 million salary.

That’s not easy for the cash strapped team, but it could happen if Golden State was willing to move some pieces around. They could deal several players, or even get involved in a three-team trade.

One of the most obvious options is to move Andrew Wiggins, who has a $30.2 million player option for the 2026/27 season. Wiggins is a great role player, but he’s far from the number two that Butler would be if he joined up with the team.

They could also throw in a few other mid-sized salaries, including Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and Kevon Looney. Those players are all solid, but are once again not on Butler’s level. Trading them would also lighten the roster and create a more succinct lineup.

Whatever happens, Golden State is not the only franchise in talks with Miami. Several big franchises want him, and they are also willing to make moves. If the Warriors want to save their season, they need to do what it takes to bring him in.

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