Jimmy Butler and the Warriors — that’s a combination that would instantly turn heads. Currently, Butler remains locked into his role with the Miami Heat, but there’s been buzz around his future. Entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, Butler has reportedly decided against signing an extension with Miami, opting to reevaluate his options after the 2024-25 season. This opens the door for speculation, especially with teams like the Golden State Warriors showing interest in a potential trade.
The Warriors are in a tricky spot financially, making it difficult to sign a marquee free agent outright. But if a star like Butler became available, Golden State could be aggressive in trying to land him. Butler would bring the kind of grit and leadership the Warriors need to extend their championship window with Steph Curry still at his peak. However, for this to happen, a blockbuster trade involving several teams might be the only way to make the salaries and roster pieces fit.
Butler’s commitment to Miami isn't in question — for now. But with the Heat failing to secure a significant title run in recent seasons and Butler entering his mid-30s, both he and the Heat might be tempted to explore new possibilities.
Mock Trade Details
Here’s how the potential four-team blockbuster trade would look:
Warriors receive: Jimmy Butler
Heat receive: Trae Young, Harrison Barnes, Kevon Looney, Jonathan Kuminga
Hawks receive: Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Gary Payton II, 2025 First-Round Pick (via Warriors), 2026 First-Round Pick (via Heat)
Spurs receive: De'Andre Hunter, Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson
This trade gives the Warriors a proven veteran in Butler with an expiring deal. The Hawks gain valuable assets and picks to rebuild or retool their roster. Meanwhile, Miami gets a dynamic playmaker in Trae Young with youngster Jonathan Kuminga, and the Spurs add another promising young player in Jovic to their rebuild in Nikola Jovic.
The Warriors Replace Klay Thompson’s Scoring With Jimmy Butler
The Warriors, looking to get back to their championship ways, could make a big splash by trading for Jimmy Butler. With Klay Thompson now gone after signing with the Mavericks, Golden State has been on the hunt for a top-level shot creator to partner up with Stephen Curry.
In this potential trade, the Warriors would send out some key guys like Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, and Jonathan Kuminga, bringing in Butler, who’s a six-time All-Star. Butler’s contract is in its last guaranteed year, and most people think he’ll opt out of his 2025-26 player option to hit free agency. He didn’t sign an extension with the Heat this summer, so his future is kind of up in the air.
Butler would give the Warriors exactly what they need—a guy who can lock down opponents defensively and show up big in the clutch. Last season, he averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 60 games, shooting nearly 50% from the field and over 40% from three. His leadership and experience in high-pressure games could push Golden State over the hump after they missed the playoffs last season with a 46-36 record, falling short in the play-in. Butler’s toughness on both sides of the ball should help the Warriors close out games better.
From a financial angle, it’s tricky. Butler's $48.8 million salary next season would strain the Warriors' cap, but the good news is that he’s on an expiring deal. They could either try to re-sign him, work out a new deal, or even let him walk next summer if things don’t work out.
Now, letting go of Andrew Wiggins—who played a big role in their 2022 title run and averaged 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds last season—would definitely hurt. His defensive skills and Kuminga’s potential as a young star are big losses. And let's not forget Looney, who’s been solid on the boards, pulling down 9.8 rebounds per game last year.
But the Warriors are trying to squeeze every last bit of Curry’s prime years, so taking a gamble on Butler could be worth it. If the Heat start off slow and decide to shake things up, Golden State could be one of the teams knocking on their door at the trade deadline. In this mock trade, the Warriors would be banking on the idea that Butler and Curry together could give them the push they need to get back to the top of the West.
Heat Land Trae Young In A Bold Move For The Future
The Miami Heat would shake things up by moving on from Jimmy Butler and acquiring Trae Young, along with key role players like Harrison Barnes, Kevon Looney, and the promising Jonathan Kuminga. This deal could set Miami up for a new era, centered around a younger, dynamic star like Young.
Trae Young averaged 25.7 points and 10.8 assists per game in 2023-24, showcasing his ability to dominate offensively and create for others. He was also named to his third All-Star team. Adding Young would completely revamp Miami’s playstyle, bringing more pace and spacing to the offense, as Trae’s deep shooting range (37.2% from three) and playmaking skills would give the Heat a fresh look on that end of the floor.
Aside from Young, Miami would get valuable contributors like Kevon Looney, one of the league's top rebounders (averaging 9.8 rebounds per 36), and Harrison Barnes, a veteran scorer and leader who could bring in some solid two-way play. Jonathan Kuminga, only 21, is a raw talent with significant upside, and could develop into a future star under Miami’s coaching.
For Miami, this would mean saying goodbye to Jimmy Butler, who has been the team’s heart and soul since arriving in 2019. Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 2024 and remained an elite defender, but he is approaching the end of his contract. With Butler’s player option for 2025-26 looming, the Heat could opt to trade him now rather than risk losing him in free agency next summer.
In this mock trade, the Heat would be looking to the future, building around a younger core and retooling their roster. While they lose Butler’s grit and leadership, the addition of Trae Young could give them a new identity—one that’s focused on high-octane offense and a quicker pace, which could be just what they need to stay competitive in the Eastern Conference.
