Billl wrote:puja21 wrote:Billl wrote:I mean, duh. Just about every contending team would like to have jimmy butler. Unless you can clear cap space to sign him outright, the "we have matching contracts" doesn't mean you have enough assets to actually trade for the guy.
This doesn't make sense for Golden State IMO
Butler turns 35 before this (Miami) season starts -- he'll be 36 when he starts his next contract
Saying "likely" because The Athletic (Shams) reported in June that Butler won't sign an extension (with any team) before his opt out date (6/29/25). And unless he gets hurt, I can't imagine he picks up the 1 year option for 50M and hits free agency at 37.
If the Heat trade him before Feb 6, anyone getting Butler is being told they will be bidding against the open market on June 30th.
Why would anyone give up assets for a free agent?
For the "hope" you can extend him before 6/29 I guess? (even though he's already said 'no thanks')
It doesn't make sense for any team, but certainly not for a Warriors team that just extended Steph -- and he'll be 37 before the playoffs start.
Because he's an all star that plays fantastic defense and shows up in the playoffs. If you are trying to make a run, that's the type of guy you want. And yeah, you have to give up assets for that. And yeah, trading for an upcoming free agent is risky. Most teams have to take some sort of risk to put a championship level team together. Sometimes they pay off, sometimes they don't. If the dubs don't want to mortgage their future to take a shot or 2 more, that's reasonable. They aren't going to be anywhere near the championship conversation if they don't though.
Yes they need to mortgage their future, I would just argue it shouldn't be Butler at this stage (whose defense is a shell of prime Bulls ICE defense btw).
The playoff Jimmy narrative is overblown IMHO.
He's a 47% reg season shooter.... versus 46% in the playoffs.
He missed the entire 2024 playoffs due to sprained MCL from the play-in (but he's 35 -- not surprising).
He's lost in the first round 5x, including getting swept in 2022 by Giannis, when Butler shot .297/.267/.727 and averaged 14.5 pts
But even if you look at just his Miami years when he's been the lead dog -- yes, he famously has eight 40 burgers since the bubble.
No denying the greatness of those moments.
He also has 15 games shooting under 40% from the field.
And another 15 games where he attempted between 0 and 4 free throws.
He's also missed another seven playoff games entirely with injuries.
And he's had similar team issues to Draymond Green (both in Minnesota and Philly with teammates and mgmt -- and now *maybe* with Riley)
