The Golden State Warriors‘ season ended a bit earlier than they hoped, losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But that wasn’t for a lack of trying. At the 2025 NBA trade deadline, the Warriors made a massive move to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat for a package surrounding Andrew Wiggins. While Butler has been a great addition through his half-season in Golden State, the franchise might have to decide on the six-time All-Star quicker than many expect.
With the Warriors in the hunt for just one more championship with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, they could make a surprise move that brings in youth and scoring for the experienced, yet aging Butler.
Butler To Celtics Mock Trade
The latest mock trade offered up by Sports Illustrated sends Butler to the Warriors’ recent rival, the Boston Celtics. In exchange, Golden State would get back two players who are currently performing at the highest level of their careers.
Warriors Receive: Anfernee Simons and Derrick White
Celtics Receive: Jimmy Butler, 2028 first-round pick
“In this deal, the Warriors decide to get younger and sell high on Butler. Butler will turn 36 during the season, Steph Curry is 37, and Draymond Green is currently 35,” Ryan Shea wrote on a potential Butler trade. “Anfernee Simons, as he is only 26, looks to be the point guard of the future for the Warriors after Steph Retires, and Derrick White, at the age of 31, brings plenty of competitiveness for both the short and long term.”
Sending Butler to the Celtics would mean Golden State doesn’t believe he, alongside Curry and Green, is a title-worthy combo. The team went 23-7 once Butler joined the roster, but as seen once Curry was injured in the postseason, the Warriors sputtered out against Minnesota.
However, the trade makes much more sense for Boston, hoping to land a Jayson Tatum replacement for next season.
“By acquiring Jimmy Butler, they do just that,” he added. “Jimmy Butler is a veteran and six-time All-Star who brings plenty of experience and will fit right into the Celtics culture.”
But even sending both Simons and White away for Butler could be too high an asking price, especially for a Celtics team in flux.
The odds of a deal like this going through are low, as all indications say Golden State feels encouraged to keep Butler in the final years of the ‘Curry era’, especially after the haul they sent out to get him.
Warriors’ Offseason
While a Butler trade to the Celtics remains unlikely, it would no doubt be the first big move made by the Warriors all summer. With the front office and Jonathan Kuminga still in a standstill, Golden State is the only team in the NBA yet to resign or add any players this summer.
Once the Kuminga situation is sorted out, they expect to sign Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II, but there is no word on when that might happen.
Most recently, reports named the Warriors a potential landing spot for former first overall pick Ben Simmons. The move would make headlines, but the 6’9″ point guard might be a bit redundant of an addition considering his skillset compared to Green’s. However, he is still a free agent and could come in as a bench player for a Warriors team lacking top-tier depth.
“Simmons is similar in many ways to Draymond Green. Neither has earned their contracts through individual scoring, but through defense and playmaking,” Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote. “Simmons wouldn’t fit alongside Green, but could be a valuable reserve behind him, so that the team doesn’t need to alter its style of play. Green is willing to take the outside shot, make or miss, the one glaring difference between the two.”
Through the first 50 days of the 2025 NBA offseason, Golden State has yet to add or resign any players, and that will continue until they can find an agreement with Kuminga on his future.
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