Jimmy Butler got his wish. The disgruntled Miami Heat All-Star has been traded to the Golden State Warriors in a multi-team deal that sends Andrew Wiggins and a protected first-round pick to South Beach. Here are the winners and losers from this blockbuster trade:
Winner: Miami Heat
Pat Riley and the Heat front office successfully ended their two-month standoff with Butler, securing valuable assets in return. The Heat receive Wiggins, a one-time All-Star who played a crucial role in Golden State’s 2022 championship run, plus a protected first-round pick. By holding out for the best deal, Miami maximized its return.
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Winner: Jimmy Butler
Butler got exactly what he wanted: an exit from Miami, a chance to compete alongside future Hall of Famers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, and a reported two-year, $121 million extension keeping him in Golden State through 2026-27.
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Loser: Golden State Warriors
Several questions cloud this move for Golden State. Can Butler, at age 35, push the Warriors over the top? Will he accept a secondary role to Curry after being Miami’s alpha? The Warriors’ decision to give Butler a reported massive two-year, $121 million extension through his age-37 season is risky, especially given the stacked Western Conference competition.
Loser: Stephen Curry
Yahoo! Sports NBA insider Kevin O’Connor recently reported that Curry had reservations about Butler joining Golden State, specifically regarding his “fit in the Warriors’ locker room.” Given Butler’s history of teammate conflicts, the potential for locker room tension looms large.
Loser: Phoenix Suns
Once considered favorites to land Butler, the Phoenix Suns’ aggressive moves—including trading their unprotected 2031 first-round pick for three future first-rounders—proved futile. Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause complicated matters, and now reports suggest Kevin Durant might be available. The Suns must quickly pivot to Plan B.
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Winner: Bam Adebayo
With Butler’s departure, the Heat now officially belongs to Bam Adebayo. The three-time All-Star center, a fan favorite in Miami, becomes the clear franchise cornerstone as Riley builds around him and guard Tyler Herro.
Winner: Andrew Wiggins
Wiggins heads to Miami with reduced pressure after six seasons in Golden State, where he developed into one of the NBA’s better two-way players. During his Warriors tenure, he averaged 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while helping secure the 2022 championship.
