The Golden State Warriors are a team who have been consistently brought up in the NBA rumor mill. That fact is not likely to change between now and the NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 6.
If the Warriors looked more like the team that started 12-3 than the ones who have gone 4-13 since, perhaps there would not be a need for persistent speculation about their trade targets. However, it is clear that Golden State needs to make a move in order to pursue another championship.
One name that has been consistently tied to the Warriors is Jimmy Butler. Pat Riley made an official statement recently that Butler would not be traded this season. That being said, the NBA has taught everyone time and time again to not take everything said at face value. Maybe the Warriors simply need to call his bluff.
Michael Scotto reported that Butler remains at the top of the list of names that the Warriors want to acquire this season.
Golden State has done its due diligence on several notable players on the trade market, including but not limited to Jimmy Butler – whom Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. played with in Chicago – Brandon Ingram, Cam Johnson, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, Kyle Kuzma, etc. Butler is seemingly the top target, but Heat President Pat Riley has publicly denied he’ll be traded.
It is abundantly clear that Golden State is in win-now mode. Relative to the players that could be available, no one helps them more in that regard than Butler.
The Warriors offense has lacked juice this season, ranking 21st in offensive rating. Butler would not only elevate the team on that end, but he is still good enough on the other end of the basketball court to not hurt their 9th-ranked defense.
