According to NBA insider Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr are concerned about Jimmy Butler‘s fit in the Golden State Warriors locker room.
Butler has requested a trade from the Miami Heat.
Miami has lowered its asking price for the veteran forward.
“My league sources say Steph Curry specifically has concerns about Jimmy’s fit in the Warriors locker room. Steve Kerr shares those feelings. Golden State’s indecision about trading for Jimmy seems largely tied to Steph & Kerr’s worries about the personality fit.”@KevinOConnorNBA https://t.co/Q0uqrOWxAB pic.twitter.com/WlwVwGQ3uo
— Dru (@dru_star) January 30, 2025
Butler is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks this season for the Heat while shooting 54.0% from the field, 36.1% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line.
A Marquette product, Butler is making $48.8 million this season. He has a player option worth $52.4 million for next season.
Butler has played for the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat. He has career averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks.
The NBA trade deadline is February 6. Butler has had issues with every team he’s played on. The All-Star doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t control his trade request.
According to NBA reporters Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, Zach LaVine is viewed by some within the Warriors as a “safer option” than Butler.
Golden State is 24-23 on the season, good for only 11th place in the Western Conference standings.
“LaVine is viewed by some within the organization as the safer option,” Slater and Thompson II wrote. “At 29, he’s five and a half years younger and some $6 million cheaper than Butler this season, though his contract extends longer and he’s had some recent health concerns. There are risks all over the board. But there is some understanding and alignment from all levels of the Warriors organization that they lack a true second scorer next to Curry, and LaVine’s explosive three-level scoring ability would fill the roster’s largest void.”
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