The Warriors are on the brink of acquiring Dennis Schroder, but they might have their eyes set on Jimmy Butler next.
Out of the four teams heavily linked to Jimmy Butler (Warriors, Rockets, Mavericks, and Suns), the Warriors are the only ones that could potentially engage in “substantive trade talks,” according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
If Butler were to leave Miami, the Warriors are one of his preferred trade destinations.
While Butler has shown interest in being traded to the Rockets and Mavericks as well, reports suggest that both teams have not shown tangible interest in pursuing the 35-year-old, as stated by Stein.
Following the Schroder trade, the Warriors are hard-capped just over $330,000 below the limit at the first apron of the tax bracket, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and Bobby Marks.
With $49 million on his contract for this season and a $52 million player option for 2025-26, Butler and the Heat failed to reach an extension last summer.
To facilitate a potential Butler trade, the Warriors will need to free up cap space, considering Andrew Wiggins’ $26.3 million contract for this season.
If the Warriors do acquire Butler, they will be adding a player with his lowest scoring output in five years, averaging 18.6 points in 31.9 minutes per game during the 2024-25 season but maintaining a 55 percent shooting rate from the field.
While pairing Butler with Draymond Green and Steph Curry could lead to success on the court, it could come at the cost of the team’s future in favor of immediate success.
For more on Jimmy Butler trade rumors, check out how Miami Heat players and coach are reacting.
