The Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler saga came to an end on Wednesday night with the forward heading to the Golden State Warriors in a huge multi-team trade, Afrosport reports.
Golden State gets Butler from the Heat in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a top 10 protected 2025 first-round pick, ending their reported pursuit of two-time NBA champion and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant.
As part of the deal, the Warriors will send Dennis Schroder, who joined the team in December, to the Utah Jazz, who will transfer veteran forward P.J. Tucker back to Miami, where he spent the 2021-22 season. Golden State guard Lindy Waters III heads to the Detroit Pistons, who will also get Josh Richardson from the Heat.
BREAKING: The Miami Heat are finalizing a deal to send Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/82mWHKCnVM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
Butler, whose relationship with the Heat has turned sour in recent times, including being suspended multiple times, will decline his $52 million player option for next season. He is reportedly planning to sign a new two-year, $111 million deal through the 2026-27 season with the Warriors.
The trade ensued while the Heat were playing at the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Warriors were getting ready to take on the Jazz in Utah. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was reported to have called a team meeting to inform players just before the game.
Curry said he texted with Butler at halftime of the Warriors-Jazz game, expressing his excitement to get going with the 35-year-old.
“We know who Jimmy is. Being in two Finals, he’s a winner,” Curry said. “I understand there’s a lot of drama down there, and who really knows what the story is. We expect to have a motivated, committed Jimmy that’s ready to impact our team for the better.”
Butler, who led the Heat to the 2020 and 2023 NBA Finals, is currently averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in his 14th NBA season.
Wiggins, on the other hand, played an integral role in the Warriors’ 2022 championship run as they beat the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the Finals. He averaged 17.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 43 appearances with the Warriors this season.
Butler’s move to Golden State provides another scoring support to Stephen Curry, who has been crying out for another superstar-calibre player in the Bay Area. Although the Warriors will miss Wiggins, their second-leading scorer with 17.6 points and one of the best defenders in the league, the arrival of Butler will take the team to another level offensively and defensively.
The Warriors (25-25) are in 11th place in the Western Conference and are back into playoff contention, while Miami (25-24) sits sixth in the East.
Full trade details
Warriors receive:
- Jimmy Butler
Heat receive:
- Andrew Wiggins
- Kyle Anderson
- P.J. Tucker
- 2025 first-round pick (protected, Warriors)
Jazz receive:
- Dennis Schroder
Pistons receive:
- Lindy Waters III
- Josh Richardson
