Jimmy Butler has successfully secured a trade from the Miami Heat to the Golden State Warriors, which includes a new contract as part of the deal. According to a source familiar with the discussions, the agreement has been reached, although it awaits league approval. Butler, a key player who led the Heat to the NBA Finals twice, had been embroiled in a tumultuous relationship with Miami, culminating in multiple suspensions earlier this year.
The trade involves the Heat receiving Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson, and future first-round draft compensation from the Warriors. Wiggins and Anderson are set to move to Miami, but Anderson's future with the team remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Schroder will go to Utah, where the Warriors were on the night of Wednesday, January 25. Additionally, Josh Richardson is being traded from Miami to Detroit, and P.J. Tucker is making a return to Miami after a brief stint with the Jazz.
Heat forward Nikola Jovic expressed his sentiments about Butler's departure, stating, "I’m going to miss him, for sure. I think a lot of guys here will. He’s someone who did a lot for this franchise." The Heat will also receive a protected first-round pick from Golden State, which is currently projected for the upcoming draft but may change based on the final terms of the deal. ESPN has reported that Butler has agreed to a two-year extension with the Warriors, set to be worth approximately $113 million.
Mark your calendars for March 25, when the Warriors will visit the Heat in Miami for the first time since Butler's trade. This move brings Butler to his fifth team in his career, having previously played for the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Miami Heat. His journeys have often been marked by both celebration upon arrival and tension at the time of departure.
Joining Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in Golden State, Butler is part of a championship pedigree that aims to regain title contention. The Warriors had a closed-door meeting soon after the trade news broke, during which head coach Steve Kerr addressed the team.
Butler's relationship with the Heat had been fraught for months, primarily over financial issues. Although he was eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension, the Heat refrained from making an offer due to Butler missing around 25% of games during his tenure with the team. This situation escalated after Butler publicly expressed doubt about finding joy on the court with the Heat, leading to his three suspensions in January, the last being indefinite.
In total, Butler's statistical performance had declined following a standout game on December 16 against the Detroit Pistons, where he scored 35 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists. After that game, his average dropped significantly in the following six appearances.
As for Wiggins, the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, he has averaged 18.5 points across a decade in the league. Coach Kerr previously praised Wiggins, noting that the Warriors' performance often correlated with his scoring output. Butler, who joined the Heat in 2019 to take over as the face of the franchise after Dwyane Wade, earned All-Star honors twice during his time in Miami and played crucial roles in their playoff runs, cementing his legacy in the team's history.
In his last public remarks as a member of the Heat on January 25, Butler professed his love for the city, but just two days later, he faced his final suspension from the team, marking the end of an era in Miami.
