Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury has sparked trade speculation, but reports remain confident the Warriors star will stay in the Bay.
After Monday Night’s devastating injury to Butler, Dub Nation was left searching for answers. Whether the star forward would become the next trade candidate ahead of the February 5 deadline suddenly became a major talking point, but according to ESPN’s Marc Spears, that won’t be an option. Instead, the Golden State Warriors’ full focus is still on moving Jonathan Kuminga before the deadline.
But now with Butler sidelined, the Warriors no longer have their secondary offensive engine. Finding a deal that strengthens the roster and supports Stephen Curry as much as possible is now more important than ever.
Why Jimmy Butler Won’t Be Traded Despite Season-Ending Injury
Why the Warriors Won’t Trade Jimmy Butler
Butler remains a vital piece of the Warriors’ puzzle. Since arriving midway through last season, he has fundamentally reshaped the team’s mentality and elevated their on-court identity. Losing him will be detrimental to the Warriors’ future. A huge reason why he won’t be traded is his massive salary. While on “NBA Today” Tuesday, Spears said:
“We don’t see Butler getting traded. One GM told me he says doubtful. Too much money. The thing with the Warriors is I’ve been told that they haven’t wanted to add salary”
Butler’s salary makes a deadline trade almost impossible, especially while he’s injured. The six-time NBA All-Star is on a max-level deal worth over $50M per year, so the Warriors would need to find a trade with a similar salary. While Butler can transform any team, it’s difficult to imagine a team committing that level of financial investment for a player who will provide no on-court production in the short term.
Butler is Too Important to Move – Even Now
When games slow down, Golden State can rely on Butler to draw fouls and attack mismatches. This extra offense takes pressure off Curry in ways no Warriors player can. That role doesn’t disappear just because he’s sidelined.
Moving Butler now would ultimately dismantle the final years of Curry’s championship window. If the Warriors were forced to trade in a player, they would have to reshape the supporting cast around Butler and Curry rather than reset the core. But that’s where Kuminga’s trade comes in.
After demanding a trade as soon as he became eligible, Kuminga’s value has skyrocketed around the league. Now the Warriors’ most movable asset, he gives Golden State the best chance in helping Curry survive Butler’s absence.
How Butler’s Injury Changes the Warriors’ Deadline Strategy
Butler’s season-ending injury has forced the Warriors into a far more complicated position ahead of the trade deadline. Due to finances and strategy, his possible trade could cause more bad than good for the Warriors franchise.
At 37 years old, Curry is still playing at an elite level, averaging 27 points per game, so the Warriors can’t afford to waste another year of his prime. The focus must shift to applying more pressure to make a Kuminga trade happen, to find immediate help.
Golden State’s championship window is narrowing, making the search for a 20-point scorer on 50% shooting a sudden priority.
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