SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The Golden State Warriors are finalizing a blockbuster trade for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Butler, 35, also agreed to an extension with the Warriors that will keep him with the team through the 2026-27 season, ESPN said. He will reportedly be paid $121 million over two seasons.
The Warriors are shipping out Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson, Lindy Waters and a first-round pick for Butler, ESPN’s Shams Charania said. The players will go several different teams as part of the multi-team trade.
The trade puts an end to a long saga that has seen the Heat suspend Butler multiple times this season. The latest suspension came after he left practice early, which the Heat called “intentionally withholding services.”
The Warriors will lose Wiggins, who was a key piece of their 2022 title. Schroder, Waters and Anderson are veterans who were in their first year with the team. The pick that Golden State surrendered is protected, which means the Warriors could keep it depending on where it lands in the draft.
Butler led the Heat to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. He has made the NBA All-Star team six times.
Butler is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this season. He has played in 25 games this season and most recently took the floor on Jan. 21. The scoring average is his lowest since the 2013-14 season.
He is known for elevating his game in the playoffs. In 2023, he averaged 26.9 points per game in 22 postseason games to lead the Heat to the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed. They eventually lost to the Denver Nuggets.
The Warriors were reportedly “dead set” on trading for a star player before Thursday’s trade deadline. They were allegedly focused on reacquiring Kevin Durant before opting to trade for Butler.
Golden State (25-24) is currently tied for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. The top six teams make the first round of the playoffs, while the No. 7-10 seeds compete in the play-in tournament for the final two playoff spots.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The Golden State Warriors are finalizing a blockbuster trade for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, ESPN reported Wednesday. Butler, 35, also agreed to an extension with the Warriors that will keep him with the team through the 2026-27 season, ESPN said. He will reportedly be paid $121 million over two seasons. […]