The Golden State Warriors made a blockbuster trade in February, acquiring six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat.
The Butler trade saved the Warriors' season. Golden State acquired Butler on February 6. The team lost to the Los Angeles Lakers that night, dropping their record to 25-26.
The Warriors went on a major run after Butler made his Dubs debut, going 23-7. Golden State finished the season as the seventh seed in the West and faced the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.
Behind Butler and Steph Curry, the Warriors beat the Rockets in seven games.
However, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Golden State in the second round in five games. Curry suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Game 1 and missed the rest of the series.
Many people believe Curry and Butler need another All-Star scorer next to them to compete for the championship next season, which is why Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Warriors trade for Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic this offseason.
Bailey proposed that the Dubs trade Moses Moody and Buddy Hield to the Bulls for Vucevic, the No. 45 pick in this year's draft and a 2028 second-round pick.
"For the Warriors, this is a bit of a desperation move, since Vucevic is 34 and on an expiring contract," Bailey wrote. "His long-term value is nowhere near Moody's (hence, Chicago's inclusion of some draft capital).
"But they were woefully thin at the 5 in 2024-25. And even at this age, Vuc is a starting center who can pass, space the floor and fit into Golden State's read-and-react system."
Vucevic is a two-time All-Star. He averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds for the Bulls this season while shooting 53.0% from the field, 40.2% from 3 and 80.5% from the foul line.
The 34-year-old Vucevic will make $21.5 million next season in the final year of his contract.
Vucevic has played for the Orlando Magic and Bulls. He has career averages of 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds.
