Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have made their intentions clear regarding Jimmy Butler‘s future with the organization. Despite his season-ending ACL tear and ongoing trade speculation involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, Golden State plans to keep Butler through his rehabilitation.
The Athletic’s Nick Friedell reported Sunday that the Warriors have made it clear to Butler they are going to stick by him as he begins a year-long rehab process. That commitment comes with just days remaining before the February 5 trade deadline and amid reports that Golden State is aggressively pursuing Antetokounmpo.
Butler tore his right ACL on January 19 during a win against the Miami Heat. He caught a pass in the paint with less than eight minutes remaining in the third quarter and fell awkwardly after a collision with Heat guard Davion Mitchell. The injury was confirmed the following day, ending his season.
The 36-year-old forward turns 37 in September. He’s facing a year-long recovery timeline that could keep him sidelined until the second half of the 2026-27 season at the earliest. Despite those circumstances, the Warriors are reportedly supporting his rehabilitation.
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The Warriors have made it clear to Jimmy Butler that they are going to stick by him as he begins a year-long rehab, per @NickFriedell
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The Giannis Complication
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GettyThe Golden State Warriors are reportedly ready to send a massive trade package to the Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo by the trade deadline.
Butler’s $54.1 million salary this season and $56.8 million next season makes him the natural salary-matching piece in any potential Antetokounmpo trade. The Milwaukee Bucks are seeking significant assets in return for their franchise star, and Butler’s contract would help balance the numbers.
But Friedell’s reporting suggests the Warriors want to acquire Giannis without including Butler in the package. That would require using Draymond Green and several other rotation players to match salaries instead.
General manager Mike Dunleavy has said the team wishes to retain Butler until he recovers. That public commitment will be tested if Milwaukee becomes serious about moving Antetokounmpo before Wednesday’s deadline.
“Even in recent days, one league source said the Warriors have made it clear to Butler that they are going to stick by him as he begins a year-long rehab,” Friedell wrote. “But actions, as always, will speak louder than words — especially if the Bucks are motivated to move Antetokounmpo before the deadline and the Warriors are steadfast in not including Butler as part of a package.”
The verbal commitment is one thing. Actually keeping Butler off the trade table when Giannis becomes available is another. The next few days will reveal whether Golden State’s loyalty holds when faced with the opportunity to land a two-time MVP.
Anthony Slater
Mike Dunleavy said he does not envision he will trade Jimmy Butler’s contract and believes Butler will rehab and return to help the team at some point next season
What Butler Brings to the Warriors When Healthy
Jimmy Butler III, Warriors
GettyJimmy Butler III of the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors desperately miss Butler’s production. Before the injury, he was averaging 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.
If Golden State can land Giannis without trading Butler, it would create an imposing trio for the 2026-27 season. Butler would return from his ACL rehab around midseason, giving the Warriors a veteran two-way forward to pair with Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry.
That scenario requires executing a complex trade structure that doesn’t include Butler’s contract. It means moving Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and potentially other pieces alongside four first-round picks. Whether Milwaukee accepts that package over a Butler-centered offer remains uncertain.
The Warriors’ Championship Window
Golden State sits at 27-23 and eighth in the Western Conference. The team needs upgrades to maximize what remains of Curry’s prime. The 37-year-old point guard is still playing at an elite level, but time is running out.
Butler’s injury complicated the Warriors’ deadline strategy. They lost a key two-way contributor and faced questions about whether to include him in blockbuster trade scenarios. Dunleavy’s public support suggests Golden State views Butler as part of their future rather than a disposable salary-matching piece.
The silver lining for Butler is that his ACL tear occurred early enough in the calendar that he could return for the second half of next season. Most ACL recoveries require 9-12 months of rehabilitation. A January 2026 injury puts him on track for a potential return around November or December 2026, assuming no setbacks.
That timeline makes him a more valuable long-term asset than if the injury had occurred later in the season. The Warriors can reasonably project having Butler available for half of 2026-27 and the entirety of 2027-28. Those years still overlap with Curry’s championship window if Golden State can add another star like Antetokounmpo.
Final Word
The Warriors’ commitment to Butler will be tested over the next three days. If Milwaukee agrees to a deal built around Green instead of Butler, Golden State follows through on its promise. If the Bucks insist on Butler as the salary-matching centerpiece, the Warriors face a choice between loyalty and opportunity.
Butler has done everything the organization could ask. He embraced the Warriors’ culture, performed at a high level, and accepted his role without complaint. The injury was a fluke, not the result of poor conditioning or reckless play. He deserves the franchise’s support during his recovery.
Whether that support survives a legitimate chance to land Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the critical question. Actions will speak louder than words, as Friedell noted. The February 5 deadline will reveal whether the Warriors’ commitment to Butler is genuine or just diplomatic posturing before a potential blockbuster trade.
For now, Butler can proceed with his rehabilitation believing he’ll be a Warrior when he returns to game action. That belief is based on the franchise’s public statements and reported private reassurances. But in the NBA, promises mean little when championship opportunities present themselves. The next 72 hours will show whether Golden State’s loyalty holds or whether Butler becomes an unexpected casualty of the Giannis sweepstakes.