Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors told Jimmy Butler they weren’t trading him after his season-ending ACL tear. That promise apparently comes with a significant exception.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on his latest Bleacher Report livestream that the Warriors assured Butler they won’t explore his trade market unless Giannis Antetokounmpo or LeBron James becomes available. With Milwaukee now taking calls on Antetokounmpo, that exception suddenly matters.
Fischer said he’s been told the Warriors will explore ways to turn Butler’s contract into Antetokounmpo. Golden State has eyed the two-time MVP for years, Fischer noted. Giannis represents the gold standard for their preferred pairing alongside Stephen Curry, not Butler.
The reasoning is straightforward. Antetokounmpo is Antetokounmpo. No further explanation required.
What a Warriors Butler-for-Giannis Trade Looks Like
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Fischer floated a potential package featuring Butler and Jonathan Kuminga as the foundation. Kuminga technically fits the Milwaukee Bucks‘ request for young players, though Milwaukee would probably want more than just those two pieces.
The Bucks are seeking a blue-chip young talent or a significant package of draft picks. Brandin Podziemski could be the additional young piece Milwaukee demands. The soon-to-be 23-year-old Milwaukee native would make sense as part of the return package, and Golden State shouldn’t hesitate to include him in a deal for Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors can offer up to four first-round picks according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater. Those picks include 2026, 2028, and 2032 unprotected, plus 2030 if it falls within the top-20 range. General manager Mike Dunleavy previously said it would take a good amount for the organization to move its post-Curry era draft picks. Those picks would be available to Milwaukee for Giannis, Slater reported.
Butler’s nearly $57 million salary next season makes him the necessary matching piece in any blockbuster deal. The Warriors aren’t actively shopping his contract, but everything is theoretically on the table in an Antetokounmpo conversation. A deal involving Draymond Green and several other rotation players is also plausible if Milwaukee prefers that structure.
Why the Warriors Are Pushing Now
Steph Curry
GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is a four-time NBA champion.
Milwaukee could wait until summer when more teams have access to additional first-round picks and clearer cap situations. That timeline doesn’t help Golden State. The Warriors need immediate upgrades if they want to maximize what remains of Curry’s prime.
Slater reported that Dunleavy is making calls and the Warriors are aggressive in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo. Golden State contacted the Bucks in the past week and made clear that a substantial offer will be on the table if Milwaukee becomes serious about moving their franchise star.
If Milwaukee prioritizes draft picks, this is the time for the Warriors to strike. Golden State has one of the deepest draft portfolios among contending teams. The quicker Milwaukee acts, league executives believe, the better chance the Warriors have to win the bidding war.
Antetokounmpo will miss the next several weeks with a calf strain, his second of the season. But he should be available for the playoffs if a deal gets completed before the February 5 deadline. Time is ticking for the Warriors to win another championship with Curry, and pairing him with Giannis would be special.
The Business Reality for Butler
Jimmy Butler
GettyJimmy Butler of the Golden State Warriors suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Butler has been in the league since 2013. He understands the NBA is a business. He may not want to leave the Warriors after a strong year and a half in the Bay Area, but he knows that Giannis being available changes everything.
Butler was told he wouldn’t be traded unless an elite opportunity materialized. That opportunity now exists. The Warriors aren’t going to pass on Antetokounmpo out of loyalty to a 36-year-old coming off a torn ACL.
As good as Butler has been for Golden State, some opportunities can’t be ignored. Trading for Giannis is one of them. Whether that deal includes Butler or centers around Green and other pieces remains uncertain, but the Warriors will do whatever it takes to land Antetokounmpo.
Final Word
The Warriors’ willingness to flip Butler for Giannis reveals their priorities. They need a star in his prime who can extend their championship window beyond Curry’s eventual decline. Butler provided stability and two-way impact, but he’s not that player at 36 years old with a torn ACL.
Antetokounmpo is 31 and averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.6 assists this season. He’s a two-time MVP who transforms any roster he joins. Pairing him with Curry creates matchup nightmares for every team in the Western Conference.
Outside of Curry, the Warriors should be willing to offer everyone and everything else to complete a Giannis deal before the deadline. That includes Butler, Kuminga, Podziemski, and four first-round picks if that’s what Milwaukee demands.
Getting Antetokounmpo won’t happen without heartbreak. Green could be gone. Butler’s tenure in Golden State could end abruptly. Kuminga and Podziemski might never reach their potential in Warriors uniforms. But if the result is Curry and Giannis playing together, those sacrifices become acceptable.
Dunleavy has one week to determine if Milwaukee is serious about dealing before February 5. If the Bucks decide to move Antetokounmpo now rather than waiting for summer, the Warriors will be ready with an aggressive offer. Butler’s status as untouchable just evaporated. Everything is on the table when Giannis becomes available.