The Warriors could explore trading Jimmy Butler this offseason 👀
(via Sam Amico)
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors enter this offseason with more clarity than they had a month ago. Steve Kerr agreed to a two-year extension, removing one of the bigger unknowns hanging over the organization. Stephen Curry is expected to remain the centerpiece of whatever comes next.
The roster around him is a different story.
Golden State reshaped part of its rotation at the February trade deadline, moving Jonathan Kuminga and landing Kristaps Porzingis, who heads into unrestricted free agency this summer. The Warriors are widely expected to pursue re-signing him. But another situation is developing quietly in the background, one that could define the offseason in a more significant way.
GettyJimmy Butler III of the Golden State Warriors.
According to Sam Amico of Hoops Wire, the Warriors could look to “gauge Butler’s trade market this offseason” as they continue evaluating their roster direction. The report signals that Jimmy Butler‘s place in Golden State’s plans is not as settled as it might appear.
The reasons are straightforward. Butler tore his ACL in January and underwent surgery in February. The recovery timeline puts a realistic return somewhere in late 2026, meaning he would likely miss the early portion of next season at minimum. He will be 37 years old next season. And he carries a contract obligation of $56.8 million next season.
The Warriors could explore trading Jimmy Butler this offseason 👀
(via Sam Amico)
GettyJimmy Butler III #10, Draymond Green #23 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors’ core has accomplished everything. Curry, Draymond Green, and Butler are all on the wrong side of 35. Meanwhile, the Western Conference has shifted around them. Oklahoma City and San Antonio are building with youth and athleticism. Golden State has watched that trend develop and largely stayed the course.
Green’s situation adds another layer. According to Anthony Slater of ESPN, the organization has expressed “no intention to shop Green” this offseason. They still view him as a winning presence on both ends, and his leadership has reportedly functioned like having an extra voice on the coaching staff. Green holds a $27 million player option for next season, and how that gets resolved carries its own weight. The most likely outcome involves a conversation about restructuring toward a longer, more team-friendly arrangement rather than a straight opt-in at the current number.
That window for larger adjustment is narrowing regardless.
Butler has appeared in 68 games since arriving from Miami at the February 2025 deadline. The production when healthy was real. But with a return not expected until late 2026 at the earliest, he could miss a significant portion of next season. For a team that cannot afford to wait, that matters. However, any team weighing a trade would still be taking on a 37-year-old recovering from a torn ACL with $56.8 million owed next season.
That is not an easy sell. The Warriors would likely need to attach additional assets to get a deal done.
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
This is ultimately about maximizing what remains of the Curry era. He is still one of the best players in basketball, still capable of carrying a team through a playoff run. But time is finite, and the roster decisions made this summer will shape whether Golden State stays competitive or begins a quiet transition.
Trading Butler would not solve every problem. But it could open the door to a younger piece or a different kind of contributor, someone who can step in from day one of training camp in September rather than wait on a recovery timeline.
The Kerr extension says the Warriors want to compete. The Butler situation will reveal how they define that.
Kerr is back. Curry is back. Green appears to be back.
What surrounds them is the real question. Butler’s injury, age, and contract make him a complicated asset to hold and an equally complicated one to move. Neither option is clean.
But standing still carries its own risk. The Western Conference is not waiting.
The Warriors know that. Now comes the hard part.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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