The Golden State Warriors had their sights set on strengthening their roster prior to the trade deadline, and they made their biggest splash by acquiring six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. Butler, known for his relentless competitiveness and two-way prowess, expressed pure elation in joining Golden State during his introductory press conference.
“I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be wanted again,” Butler beamed, sporting a huge grin from ear to ear. The 33-year-old veteran is clearly thrilled for a fresh start after a tumultuous ending to his five-plus seasons with the Heat organization.
Mutual Excitement for the Butler-Warriors Partnership
The Warriors brass shared Butler’s enthusiasm about the trade. Head coach Steve Kerr praised Butler as a “big-time pressure player” and “postseason player” who will fit seamlessly into Golden State’s battle-tested locker room. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. echoed the sentiment, viewing Butler as the ideal star talent to maximize the championship window of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
For his part, Butler is eager to learn from the Warriors’ championship pedigree and share the court with the likes of Curry and Green. “Pass the ball to Steph. And get out the way. Easy,” Butler quipped when asked about meshing with the Warriors’ offensive system.
“I think our personalities are going to be fine,” Butler said of playing alongside the fiery Green. “I would like to say that I am a winner. I haven’t won it. But I would like to call myself a winner. I do want to win it. It being a championship.”
Putting Miami Turmoil in the Rearview Mirror
When pressed about the circumstances that led to his departure from Miami, Butler kept the focus on the future rather than rehashing the past. The Heat suspended Butler multiple times this season for conduct detrimental to the team, with his tenure essentially ending after he missed a team flight and left a shootaround when informed he would come off the bench.
“All of that is behind me, moving forward,” Butler stated. “Sooner or later, talking’s got to stop.” Instead of dwelling on the breakup with Miami, Butler emphasized his excitement to compete for a title with his new squad.
“I’m very, very, very happy that I’m not getting suspended no more,” he added with a chuckle.
Maintaining Future Flexibility for Golden State
While the Warriors parted with Andrew Wiggins and role players to land Butler, they managed to keep promising young talents like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski as well as most of their future draft capital. This positions them to potentially swing another blockbuster trade down the line if the right franchise-altering superstar becomes available.
“Come this draft, I think we will have multiple unprotected picks available, pick swaps and anything else on the roster that people find attractive,” Dunleavy noted. “So I think from that standpoint, we can evaluate this roster some more, and if there’s other moves that need to be made, we’ll be in the game for those.”
Debut in the Windy City?
NBA fans may not have to wait long to see Butler suit up for the Warriors. The marquee addition is aiming to make his Golden State debut on Saturday against his former Chicago Bulls team. Butler looks to immediately prove that his championship mettle and winning spirit are the perfect fit to rejuvenate the Warriors’ title hopes this season and beyond.
