According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors are interested in adding Jimmy Butler.
Butler, who currently plays for the Miami Heat, will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if he declines his 2025-26 player option, a move he’s expected to do.
“Jimmy Butler’s going to be a free agent next summer,” Amick said on The TK Show. “Didn’t get an extension done. The Warriors have interest there and probably made a couple calls [to Miami] this summer.”
The Warriors need another star after losing Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.
The Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2024 postseason in five games. Butler didn’t play because of a knee injury.
A six-time All-Star, Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks in 60 games last season for the Heat while shooting 49.9% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line.
Butler has career averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat. He’s made five All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive teams.
“Butler originally wanted an extension from the Heat this summer, but then changed his mind after Miami did not offer one,” NBA reporter Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald wrote. “He now intends to play out this season and not sign an extension with any team and will become a free agent in the summer of 2025. The Heat is not shopping Butler, according to a source.”
Butler joined the Heat in 2019. Miami lost in the 2020 Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks, lost in the 2022 conference finals to the Celtics, lost in the 2023 Finals to the Denver Nuggets and lost in the first round this year to Boston.
The Warriors missed the playoffs in 2024 after losing the 9-10 play-in game to the Sacramento Kings.
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