After the Golden State Warriors attempted to reunite with star forward Kevin Durant—only for him to decline—they quickly pivoted to disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. In a complex three-team trade, the Warriors acquired Butler, with NBA champion Andrew Wiggins heading to Miami in return.
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Steph Curry now has a new running mate for the next few years, as Butler also signed a two-year, $122 million extension with Golden State.
Durant’s decision to reject a reunion with the Warriors is widely believed to be linked to Draymond Green still being with the team, as well as the fact that Durant never requested a trade this season. Reports suggest that the idea of him moving teams was as much of a surprise to Durant as it was to everyone else.
This morning on First Take, Stephen A. Smith weighed in on the Butler trade, arguing that the move doesn’t significantly improve Golden State’s chances.
“I’m not moved at all. Listen, that’s no knock against Jimmy Butler, but what we are not going to do today is call this a mega deal—it’s not a mega deal,” Smith said. “The fact of the matter is, if Jimmy Butler would’ve ended up in Phoenix with Kevin Durant, that would’ve been a mega deal. But him being in Golden State? You gotta understand something—we are accustomed to seeing Steph Curry with Klay Thompson. Jimmy Butler is not a Klay Thompson-caliber player, or type of player, rather.”
This trade has drawn comparisons to the Phoenix Suns’ acquisition of Bradley Beal, which has yet to yield the expected results. There’s a possibility that Butler’s addition won’t bring the impact the Warriors are hoping for, while also adding a hefty contract to their books for the next two years.
Still, with their championship window closing, the Warriors are clearly in win-now mode, determined to maximize Curry’s greatness while they still can.
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