Now that Jimmy Butler has officially, and rather dramatically, demanded a trade from the Miami Heat, who have suspended Butler for seven games for “several instances of conduct detrimental to the team” while they pursue a deal, the Warriors appear to have a golden opportunity to swoop in and acquire the second star they require.
However, according to The Athletic, Golden State is not interested in Butler because he would be too expensive — both in terms of the maximum salary he will demand as a 35-year-old free agency this summer and the high package price of trading for him in the first place.
.. The math to complete a deal for Butler — or anyone making anywhere near his salary figure — is tricky. To acquire him, either Andrew Wiggins , at $26.2 million, or Draymond Green , at $24.1 million, would have to be part of the deal to match salaries, along with a handful of other role players.
Of those two, the expectation is it’d be Wiggins, which is part of the hesitation inside the Warriors’ walls. Wiggins has regained his form as the team’s most reliable nightly perimeter defender while hitting 40 percent of his 3s.
He’s well-liked by teammates and coaches and, in a win-now environment, the Warriors maintain more interest in trades that allow them to keep Wiggins in the fold next to Curry and Green.
While acknowledging Butler’s ability, sources inside the locker room (and the Warriors’ coaching staff and front office) would rather keep their two best wings than acquire Butler.
In addition to Wiggins, who would primarily serve as the money-matching component of the trade, the Heat would almost surely require Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors’ greatest present hope for a future cornerstone player, as well as potential future draft picks.
What would the Warriors’ net gain be in the playoffs if they added a proven two-way postseason great at the expense of their best wings?
Reasonable minds can debate on the answer to that issue, but it looks like the Warriors, who have already added Dennis Schroder, are more likely to pursue a deal that will not break the bank and, theoretically, improves their chances of making the playoffs.
According to the Athletic, that player might be Chicago center Nikola Vucevic, who is enjoying a fantastic season, particularly as a 3-point shooter who could stretch the floor for Curry and a Warriors offense that is severely limited in space across its most viable combinations.
Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson has also been reported as a potential Warriors target, although he would cost significantly more. According to The Athletic, teams like the Thunder and Kings may be in “hotter pursuit.
” The Warriors are not interested in bidding wars. They’re looking for a clearance-rack purchase that could turn out to be a fantastic deal.
Vucevic makes sense in that context. He would most likely not elevate the Warriors to legitimate contender status, but he would alleviate some of Curry’s offensive pressure and give the Warriors the appearance of a team that isn’t fully giving up on this era.
Warriors supporters will not appreciate it. They’ll regard it as an appeasement gesture rather than a substantive one, but that might be the best strategy.
This team is arguably a lot further away from contention than fans want to acknowledge, and an enthusiastic move for Butler could further jeopardize the future the Warriors are attempting to protect beyond Curry’s reign. Whether we like it or not, this will come to an end sooner rather than later.