The Golden State Warriors wrapped up another disappointing season with an NBA Play-In Tournament loss against the Phoenix Suns. Once again, the team came up short of expectations.
A big part of their problem this season was injuries. Jimmy Butler went down for the year due to a torn ACL and Stephen Curry missed a lot of time due to an injury as well.
With that being said, changes could be coming for the Warriors this offseason.
According to a report from NBA reporter Sam Amico, Golden State could be open to the idea of trading Butler this offseason.
“Sources tell Hoops Wire the Warriors could gauge Butler’s trade market this offseason as they evaluate the roster’s direction,” Amico wrote.
“Butler is recovering from a torn right ACL suffered in January. He underwent surgery in February and is expected to miss nine to 12 months, placing a potential return in late 2026. He is 36 and under contract through 2026-27 after signing a two-year extension following his arrival from the Miami Heat.”
Warriors Could Still Get Good Value for Jimmy Butler
Before going down with the ACL injury, Butler played in 38 games. He averaged 20 points per game to go along with 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals. Butler also shot 51.9 percent from the floor and 37.6 percent from three-point range.
Those numbers are still star-caliber numbers. He’s more than capable of being a leader on a championship contending team.
Depending on the Warriors’ asking price, Butler should not be hard to move if they choose to pursue that option.
With that being said, let’s dive in and take a look at some teams who could pursue a trade for Butler if he is placed on the chopping block.
Potential Trade Destinations for Jimmy Butler
The Milwaukee Bucks stand out as one potential destination for Butler. If Golden State truly wants to pursue a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, he would be one of the most obvious contract matching trade chips for the Warriors.
Another potential option would be the Phoenix Suns. They had interest in Butler before he was traded to Golden State by the Miami Heat. With the Suns desperately trying to get back into NBA Finals contention, Butler could be an intriguing target.
One potential sleeper could be the Indiana Pacers. After losing their lottery pick to the Los Angeles Clippers, Kevin Pritchard made it clear that he wants to be aggressive this offseason. If the Pacers want to get ultra-aggressive, Butler could be worth taking a look at.
Could the Los Angeles Lakers get involved? That would be a bit of a long shot, but the Lakers want to build a championship roster around Luka Doncic. Butler could be a piece of that puzzle.
Finally, a team like the Denver Nuggets could be an interesting match. Nikola Jokic clearly needs more help. Butler would bring elite defense and the ability to score to the Nuggets, along with elite leadership.
Expect to hear a lot of rumors surrounding the Warriors this offseason. Butler is a name worth keeping a very close eye on as a potential trade chip.
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