Even at 35, Jimmy Butler could be a huge asset to many teams in the NBA, especially those hoping to compete for the championship, and it is obvious that he wants to leave the Miami Heat. Butler has established himself as one of the league’s most dependable postseason players since relocating to Miami in 2019, leading the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances.
However, it doesn’t appear that there is much interest in a Butler deal at this time. That could be due to several factors. However, his contract predicament may be the biggest.
As he looks for a longer contract, Butler, who is already among the top paid players in the NBA, is expected to decline his player option for the upcoming season. However, it’s possible that few clubs will embrace the concept.
The Golden State Warriors are one of the teams who had been most heavily linked with Butler in recent months. Yet, as he inches towards the Miami exit door, it looks like they have dropped out of the trade race.
According to The Athletic, the Warriors are not currently being viewed as a viable option and there have been no substantive talks or traction to get any type of deal done. Butler’s age and injury history makes him a risky choice while his price tag makes him an untenable option.
In order to bring in someone like Butler, the Warriors would have to say goodbye to either Draymond Green or Andrew Wiggins, something that they might not be willing to do at this point. Then there is the situation surrounding Butler’s long-term future. Would the Warriors be willing to hand a big money extension to someone with his injury history as he approaches his late 30s?
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