Warriors “not considering” trading Jimmy Butler after injury
It’s with a closed face Mike Dunleavy JrGolden State’s GM talked about the injury Jimmy Butler and about the club’s strategy between now and the trade deadline.
The manager, who played with Jimmy Butler in Chicago and was the main architect of his arrival in the Warriors last February, he was inevitably disappointed. But above all, he wanted to end the speculation: Despite the winger’s torn ACL and the obvious need for reinforcements, Golden State “disregard” to transfer Jimmy Butler by February 5th.
And this even if the number one goal remains to be competitive during Stephen Curry’s final seasons…
“The parameters have changed, not our approach” he says. “It doesn’t matter if we do something marginal or something more drastic, we won’t panic.”
And when asked about the idea of using Jimmy Butler’s contract as leverage in the market (to recover Anthony Davis even Giannis Antetokounmpo ?), Mike Dunleavy Jr. is persistent: “I don’t think about it. (…) My vision is for him to give us a boost next year, as he did last year when he arrived.”
Quid de Jonathan Hold?
Before last night, Golden State executives were focused on resolving the Jonathan Cummings dispute. Now without Jimmy Butler, all the cards have been reshuffled, including that of Kongo, who has spent the last sixteen matches glued to the bench, in a tracksuit.
The message from Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the Warriors is very clear. “He is available to the coach every night and I think he can help us win. His situation is not ideal, but he is a professional. His job is to stay ready. I know Steve has communicated with him and if he is called, I expect him to be ready to help the team.”
The general manager also confirmed his player’s transfer request, but the Warriors won’t part with him if the haggling doesn’t pay off. “There was demand, yes, but we also have to consider market demand”he said firmly.
In the weeks leading up to the deadline, the Warriors must be strategic, even if it means bluffing. An hour later, Jonathan Cumminga made a notable comeback (20 points, 7 rebounds) in Steve Kerr’s rotation. One thing is for sure: everyone in Golden State is stunned by the injury to “Robin” Stephen Curry.
Last night against the Raptors, back to back, Steve Kerr’s men were stomping from the opening minutes of the match. For Mike Dunleavy Jr. and his staff, all should also be reviewed.
A complicated context
The GM also said he’s kind of “relieved” that this twist of fate happened a few weeks before the transfer window closed, and not the other way around: It gives them time to analyze this new reality … and that Jimmy Butler’s trade option isn’t one of the priority scenarios.
“We’ll take the next two weeks to reassess our team through this new context. At the same time yesterday we were on the road. We’ve been playing well for a couple of weeks. We’ve been going in the right direction and suddenly everything is back on track.”if you complain-t-il. “The games ahead will be crucial to help us assess what we need to improve the team.”
Before Jimmy Butler’s injury, the Warriors were looking to improve their roster without contracts that extend beyond the 2027 season. At the end of that season, the contracts of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler expired, giving Golden State an early window to begin the transition into the post-Curry era.
Still, Stephen Curry’s loyalty to the Warriors, and the level at which he continues to perform, could be a game-changer. Mike Dunleavy Jr. therefore finds himself in the balance: looking to his star for one last chance at starring roles, while trying to prepare for a future without him…
That leaves two questions for the Warriors: Are they willing to put their future first-round draft picks on the table, and are they willing to accept contracts beyond 2027?
To these two questions, Mike Dunleavy Jr. answers the same thing. “If we can get a player of undisputed value back, we’ll explore all the possibilities. But the list of players we’re willing to do that is limited…If we’re talking about the Draft rounds that will fall when Steph is no longer here, then we’ll have to bring back a player who will wear our jersey when they’re drafted.” concludes the GM.
Comments collected in San Francisco.
| Jimmy Butler | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | CHI | 42 | 9 | 40.5 | 18.2 | 76.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2012-13 | CHI | 82 | 26 | 46.7 | 38.1 | 80.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 8.6 |
| 2013-14 | CHI | 67 | 39 | 39.7 | 28.3 | 76.9 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15 | CHI | 65 | 39 | 46.2 | 37.8 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2015-16 | CHI | 67 | 37 | 45.5 | 31.1 | 83.2 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 20.9 |
| 2016-17 | CHI | 76 | 37 | 45.5 | 36.7 | 86.5 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 23.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 59 | 37 | 47.4 | 35.0 | 85.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 22.2 |
| 2018-19 * | All teams | 65 | 34 | 46.2 | 34.7 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 18.7 |
| 2018-19 * | PHL | 55 | 33 | 46.1 | 33.8 | 86.8 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 18.2 |
| 2018-19 * | MIN | 10 | 36 | 47.1 | 37.8 | 78.7 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 21.3 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 58 | 34 | 45.5 | 24.4 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 19.9 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 52 | 34 | 49.7 | 24.5 | 86.3 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 57 | 34 | 48.0 | 23.3 | 87.0 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 21.4 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 64 | 33 | 53.9 | 35.0 | 85.0 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 22.9 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 60 | 34 | 49.9 | 41.4 | 85.8 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| 2024-25 * | All teams | 26 | 31 | 54.2 | 35.1 | 80.5 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 17.3 |
| 2024-25 * | MIA | 25 | 31 | 54.0 | 36.1 | 80.1 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 17.0 |
| 2024-25 * | Mr | 1 | 29 | 58.3 | 0.0 | 84.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 25.0 |
| In total | 840 | 33 | 47.2 | 33.0 | 84.2 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 18.3 | |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-01-21 10:45:00
