Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat is linked to be a trade prospect for the Golden State Warriors in the upcoming NBA Trade Deadline. According to multiple reports, Butler is being pursued by the Warriors and the Phoenix Suns. However, Golden State is holding out in trading for the disgruntled star.
Two influential members of the organization are concerned about Butler, according to NBA expert Kevin O’Connor. The “personality fit” of the Heat player is a concern for both head coach Steve Kerr and Warriors star Stephen Curry, according to O’Connor.
“My league sources say Stephen Curry specifically has concerns about Jimmy Butler’s fit in the Warriors locker room, and Steve Kerr shares those feelings,” O’Connor said. “So, Golden State’s indecision about trading for Butler seems to be largely tied to Steph and Kerr’s worries about the personality fit there.”
Sources: Steph Curry and Steve Kerr have concerns about how Jimmy Butler would fit on the Warriors.
More details on the latest episode of my podcast: https://t.co/oEvzkmkwdN pic.twitter.com/ZEzNMajeoV
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 30, 2025
In January alone, Butler has been suspended three times by the Heat organization. His first suspension came after he requested to be traded to a different franchise. He was banned for seven games and talked to team executives during his time away from basketball. His second suspension came after he missed a team flight while the team was on their way to Milwaukee.
The six-time All-Star was suspended for two games because of his missed flight. After that, Miami suspended him indefinitely after he walked away from the team’s shootaround ahead of their game against the Orlando Magic on Monday. When Butler learned that Haywood Highsmith had been selected by the squad as the starting forward rather than him, he left.
Despite his off-court issues, Butler has proven to be a team player when it matters.
The Warriors are ahead among the teams inquiring about Bulls big man
The Chicago Bulls have made it known they are willing to part ways with big man Nikola Vucevic. The Golden State Warriors are among the clubs interested in signing Vucevic. The two-time All-Star’s asking price, meanwhile, appears to be excessive. The Warriors are still the top team in line to get the 6-foot-11 center despite everything.
NBA Insider Marc Stein revealed that the Warriors are unwilling to give up a few assets.
“The Bulls continue to seek a first-round pick in exchange for former All-Star center Nikola Vučević, league sources say,” Stein wrote. “The Warriors have been at the front of the line in terms of potential Vučević suitors for weeks but, mired in a 10-20 funk that had them stuck at a lowly No. 11 in the West entering Monday’s play, have to date been unwilling to surrender more than second-round draft capital.”
The Warriors “have continued their due diligence on the trade market and inquired about potential frontcourt upgrades” including Robert Williams, Nikola Vucevic, Jonas Valančiūnas and John Collins 👀
(via HoopsHype) pic.twitter.com/jUeL0pyfiZ
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) January 17, 2025
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
