Don't expect Jimmy Butler to relocate to the Bay by the trade deadline.
The Golden State Warriors are unlikely to swing a deal for the disgruntled Miami Heat wing and aren't considered a viable option despite being on his initial list of preferred destinations, sources told The Athletic's Anthony Slater, Marcus Thompson II, and Sam Amick.
The Warriors have their eyes set elsewhere, as they reportedly discussed a deal with the Chicago Bulls for center Nikola Vucevic. The Montenegrin big man is in the midst of one of the best offensive seasons of his career, averaging 20.3 points per game while shooting a personal-best 44% from deep on 4.8 attempts per contest.
Butler's $48.4-million salary this season is reportedly among the Warriors' multiple deterrents regarding a possible trade involving the forward.
Golden State's only players earning at least $20 million in 2024-25 are Stephen Curry ($55.8 million), Andrew Wiggins (26.3 million), and Draymond Green ($24.1 million). Wiggins is regarded as the most likely of the three to be included in any deal, but the franchise reportedly prefers to keep the former first overall pick rather than include him in trades for salary-matching purposes.
The Warriors are also averse to re-signing Butler, 35, to a max contract, sources told The Athletic.
Butler is expected to opt out of his current deal this summer and become a free agent. Golden State is already pushing up against the $154.7-million salary cap for 2025-26, per Spotrac, and still has Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency to navigate this summer. Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Vucevic is owed $20 million this season and $21.4 million in 2025-26.
