We’re just days away from the NBA All-Star Game, and with the trade deadline just one day away, the Golden State Warriors have made a bold move, acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Warriors are sending Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick to Miami in exchange for Butler, ending a two-month standoff between the All-Star forward and the Heat. Along with the trade, Butler has agreed to a two-year, $121 million extension with Golden State, opting out of his 2025-26 player option for the new deal.
Warriors Go All-or-Nothing for the Next Two Seasons
For the Warriors, the move signals an all-in approach to maximizing the championship window of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. While they’ve kept young talents like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski, the addition of Butler provides a battle-tested veteran who has led teams to the NBA Finals twice. Golden State now joins the Clippers as the second-oldest team in the league (27.7 average age), trailing only the Phoenix Suns (27.9), who are rumored to be exploring a trade for Kevin Durant.
Meanwhile, Miami appears to be shifting its focus to the future. Though Schroder is reportedly headed to the Utah Jazz as part of a multi-team deal, and Kyle Anderson was initially linked to Toronto, the Heat are keeping Anderson for now, along with Wiggins and a protected first-round pick from Golden State. The new pieces give Miami a fresh start, allowing Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro to take center stage without the distraction of Butler’s contract dispute.
Butler’s Time in Miami
Despite falling short of a championship, Butler’s five-year run in Miami cements him as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. He led the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances (2020, 2023), including a historic run as the eighth seed, and took them to three conference finals in four seasons. While the title never came, his impact on the organization was undeniable.
The Western Conference playoff race is tighter than ever, with just five games separating the fourth and eleventh seeds. While Butler’s arrival may not make the Warriors instant favorites, the front office is clearly prioritizing another title run with Curry over standing pat. Golden State retains all of its future first-round picks beyond 2025, keeping them flexible for future moves. Whether this trade will push the Warriors over the top remains to be seen, but at least they’re giving Curry another shot at ring number five which would be the tie-breaker with LeBron James, who as we now know will have Luka Doncic on his team.
