Butler traded to Warriors, Wiggins heading to Heat

SAN FRANCISCO: The Miami Heat managed to find a home for Jimmy Butler before the trade deadline on Wednesday. The 35-year-old forward signed a two-year $121 million deal with the Golden State Warriors and will now play alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Butler declined his 2025-26 player option with the Miami Heath that would have earned him another $52 million in favour of the new 2-year extension that will last through the 2026-27 season.

Butler’s relationship with the Heat had been steadily declining since the summer of 2024. After making it clear he wanted an extension, with a rumoured value of about $113 million, Pat Riley made it clear that the organisation would only pay that amount to “somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night.” Butler had sat out of the playoffs that season with injury.

In December rumours began circulating of Butler demanding a trade. In early January, he made his desires clear, stating that he couldn’t get his joy on the court back in Miami. A series of suspensions for Butler’s “insubordinate conduct” then plagued the Heat. Butler was suspended for his comments at that post game press conference, as well as missing a team flight, and walking out on a team practice.

The trade also illustrates the Warriors’ future plans. Golden State has been a franchise in limbo for the past couple years. After winning their seventh title thanks to Curry’s MVP performance in the finals, Golden State were accused by fans and media for wasting their star player’s last few years in the league.

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Curry is 36 years old, and with many worrying about his decline as well as how much time he has left in the league in general, pressure was put on the Warriors to find him a number 2 option that could share the load. Golden State had previously attempted to make their two-timeline plan work, one in which they tried to chase championships with their tried and true line-up of Curry, Green, and Klay Thompson, while training the franchises young stars at the same time.

However, with Thompson’s poor performances and eventual trade to the Dallas Mavericks, it seemed as if hope for the present was lost. The Warriors’ traded to receive Dennis Schroder in mid-December, but he failed to provide Curry the support the front office was hoping for. Now, in a four-team trade the Warriors are receiving Jimmy Butler, the Heat are receiving Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, P.J Tucker, and a 2025 1st Round pick (Warriors), the Utah Jazz are receiving Dennis Schroder, and the Detroit Pistons are receiving Lindy Waters III, and Josh Richardson.

Apart from Schroder, the Warriors will depart with Wiggins, who was a pivotal part of their 2022 Championship team. Wiggins had been doing well as of recent, and is the Warriors’ second leading-scorer, averaging 17.6 points per game this season. However, the Warriors have struggled to win games, as they are currently one spot out of the play-in tournament, placed at eleventh.

The trade signifies the Warriors committing to Curry’s final few years in the league. They also managed to make the trade without losing prospects such as Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

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