How The Golden State Warriors Could Get Jimmy Butler And LeBron James Before The Trade Deadline

How The Golden State Warriors Could Get Jimmy Butler And LeBron James Before The Trade Deadline

Both Jimmy Butler and LeBron James to the Warriors? Yeah, it’s wild, but here’s how it could happen before the February trade deadline.

FRAN LEIVADEC 13, 2024

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ARCHIVE

MIAMI HEAT ARCHIVE

LEBRON JAMES

JIMMY BUTLER

LOS ANGELES LAKERS ARCHIVE

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COMMENT

Word on the street is that the Miami Heat are open to trading Jimmy Butler. Butler, at 35, is still delivering solid numbers—18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game this season. He’s got a player option worth $52.4 million for the 2025-26 season, but rumors suggest he might decline it to explore free agency. His agent has hinted that Jimmy’s eyeing teams with championship potential, and guess who’s on that list? Yep, the Warriors, along with the Rockets and Mavericks.

 

On the other side, we’ve got LeBron James. Despite the Lakers’ ups and downs, LeBron has been clear about his commitment to staying in L.A. Still, reports indicate that the Warriors are keeping tabs on his situation, just in case things change.

Now, how could the Warriors pull off bringing both of these stars to the Bay? It’s a tall order, no doubt. Golden State’s roster is already packed with hefty contracts, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and recent additions like Buddy Hield, who came in after Klay Thompson’s move to the Mavericks.

 

To make room for Butler and potentially LeBron, the Warriors would need to get creative with their assets. This could mean parting ways with promising talents like Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody, and possibly moving some of their recent veteran signings.

Financially, it’s a tight squeeze. The Warriors are already deep into luxury tax territory, and adding two massive contracts would complicate things further. They’d have to negotiate deals that might involve multiple teams to balance salaries and make the trades feasible.

 

Getting Jimmy To The Bay

Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) dribbles the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

 

Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) dribbles the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

 

Warriors receive: Jimmy Butler

 

Heat receive: Andrew Wiggins, De’Anthony Melton, Kevon Looney, Lindy Waters III, 2025 First-Round Pick, 2027 First-Round Pick

This potential trade could send Jimmy Butler to the Warriors, giving Golden State another defensive and offensive weapon to complement Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Right now, the Warriors are sitting at 14-10, fifth in the West, and looking for that one move to push them back into title contention. Meanwhile, the Heat are 13-10 and reportedly exploring their options with Butler before potentially losing him for nothing in free agency this summer.

 

For Golden State, this deal would hurt a bit but not as much as you’d think. Andrew Wiggins, who’s averaging 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists this season, has been solid but not irreplaceable. De’Anthony Melton had a brief impact, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in six games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Kevon Looney remains a glue guy, but his departure is manageable with the Warriors’ depth, and Lindy Waters III is more of a cap filler in this deal.

What makes this trade especially attractive for the Warriors is that it doesn’t require them to part ways with their young core of Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Instead, they’re leveraging two future first-round picks, a move that aligns with their “win now” mentality while keeping some of their developmental pieces intact.

 

This trade isn’t ideal for the Heat, but their hands might be tied. Butler holds a $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season, and early indications are that he’ll decline it to test free agency. The Heat face the risk of losing their star for nothing in the offseason, so getting a solid package of Wiggins—who can slot into a similar two-way role—and draft picks for the future might be their best option.

 

The fit for Butler in Golden State is seamless. His defensive versatility and ability to step up in clutch moments align perfectly with the Warriors’ identity. Butler’s gritty, do-it-all mentality would take pressure off Curry, especially in the playoffs, while giving them another ball-handler and shot creator.

This move wouldn’t just make the Warriors better; it would strike fear into the rest of the league. Butler alongside Curry, Draymond, and the Warriors’ depth? That’s a squad built for a deep playoff run. The Heat, on the other hand, would reset around Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro while stockpiling assets for the future.

 

At the end of the day, this deal might come down to Miami’s willingness to accept a package without another rising star like Kuminga or Moody. But given Butler’s looming free agency, this could be their best chance to avoid losing him for nothing.

Warriors receive: LeBron James, Bronny James

 

Lakers receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II, Kyle Anderson, Gui Santos, Trayce Jackson-Davis, 2026 Swap Pick, 2029 Swap Pick