Bill Simmons paints a bleak picture for Stephen Curry with the Paul George trade idea

The Golden State Warriors absorbed a significant blow to his season on Monday night when Jimmy Butler III suffered a torn right knee during the win over the Miami Heata development that immediately cast doubt on the franchise’s short-term direction and long-term ceiling.

After the injury, Bill Simmons floated a bleak hypothetical to match Paul George beside Stephen Curryframing it as one of the few imaginable paths forward if Golden State decides to rebuild its core.

Speaking on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons suggested a deal that would send Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for George, despite admitting that the logic was weak on both sides.

“I don’t know what else they would do. The only trade I could think of, and I don’t even know why Philly would do this is if Philly just wants to go this year plus two more years of Paul George, and you’re like, take Butler. He’s coming back at the All-Star break next year as an expiring contract. We’ll take the extra piece, Paul George, for one year. Here’s any interest in dumping Paul George.

Podcast guest Rob Mahoney immediately questioned the premise.

“This is pretty bleak if that’s where we’re going right now,” Mahoney said.

Bill Simmons calls Paul George trade for Jimmy Butler “dark” as Warriors face uncertainty

Simmons doubled down on the scenario’s sobering implications.

“Gloomy for everybody, including Paul George. Like this is my trade value? A guy who just tore his ACL. Pretty rough,” Simmons said.

George, 35, is in his second season with the Philadelphia 76ers and is averaging 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range in 23 appearances. He plays 29.8 minutes per contest. George is in the second year of a four-year, $211.5 million contract signed during the 2024 offseason, making $51.6 million this season with a $56.8 million player option for the 2027-2028 season.

Butler, 36, had his season ended prematurely after appearing in 38 games in his first full campaign with the Golden State following his trade from Miami last February. He averaged 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc in 31.1 minutes per game. Butler is making $54.1 million this season and is owed $56.8 million next year with a two-year extension before he becomes a free agent.

On the court, the Warriors showed signs of instability after Butler’s injury, falling 145–127 to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in a game they never led and trailed by as many as 30 points. Golden State is 25-20, currently eighth in the Western Conference standings.

The Warriors open a four-game road trip Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks (18-26) at 7:30 PM ET on Prime Video, with questions surrounding Curry’s supporting cast and the organization’s next move looming for the rest of the season.