With the current craziness around the entire NBA, the days near the Feb 7th trade deadline did not disappoint. A massive 4-team trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors has been shocking, creating divided opinions on who actually won the trade. Therefore, we’re analyzing the pros and cons of Butler’s addition. Is this beneficial for Golden State?
Full Trade:
GSW
MIA
- Andrew Wiggins
- Kyle Anderson
- PJ Tucker
- 2025 Top 10 Protected 1st-Round Pick
DET
- Lindy Waters III
- Josh Richardson
- 2nd-Round Pick
UTA
- Dennis Schroder
- 2032 2nd-Round Pick
(via @ShamsCharania on X)
Pros
As we can see, this is a pretty good addition to the Warriors. They will gain incredible support for Steph Curry, who has not received the necessary help to pursue a playoff run. And sure, talking about the postseason, Butler has shown a special performance boost in these important moments, as we saw in the legendary Heat playoff runs in the last few years, when they were almost always underdogs.
If Butler develops good chemistry with the team, the Warriors will not be ruled out of playoff contention, becoming an extremely dangerous team in the West. In many ways, Butler fits well in the Warrior Culture and play style, adding versatility and consistency on both ends of the court.
Potential Cons
On the downside, they may have given up too many assets for Butler. Andrew Wiggins was not a bad fit for the Warriors by any means, and Dennis Schroder, while not performing well as a Warrior, was still a very solid depth option that could have broken out at any time. So, it is safe to say the team lost depth to a degree. And, since they do not have a big man, they NEED to stay healthy if they want to strive for a winning season.
On top of that, Jimmy Butler’s recent situation is rather concerning. While no one really knows the exact details, it’s worth mentioning that his discomfort with the Heat (especially Pat Riley) led to his unwillingness to play and eventually requesting a trade, which resulted in a suspension from Miami. As a result, we are uncertain whether Butler will actually want to give his all with the Warriors.
In conclusion, this trade has a lot of potential—as long as everything goes well. If it does, it could result in a pretty good season for Golden State. However, they have not solved their insufficiencies just yet. They may have to make another trade before the deadline to boost their chances of winning.
Text sources: NBA.com
