Depth: Butler to the Warriors Not Just a Rumor; Industry Insiders Predict Lakers, Rockets, Spurs, and Nuggets as Potential Suitors Too

As the season approaches, Jimmy Butler has once again become a focal point this week, and his name is expected to continue surfacing leading up to the trade deadline.

Earlier, in The TK Show podcast, renowned sports journalist Sam Amick mentioned that the Golden State Warriors might be interested in this potential free agent in 2025 and may have “possibly” made some calls this summer.

Considering that Butler has not renewed his contract with the Heat and the Warriors failed to sign Paul George or Markkanen, plus the Warriors’ need for another star player to help them return to championship contention after Stephen Curry’s peak years. At the same time, if the Heat believes Butler might leave next year, trading him early could be the best choice.

Therefore, the rumors linking Butler with the Warriors are not baseless, and insiders even provided a trade scenario:

The Warriors get Butler and Josh Richardson; the Heat gets Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, the 2025 first-round pick, the 2027 first-round pick, and the 2028 first-round pick swap.

For the current Warriors, they need significant talent upgrades to return to championship contention. Pairing Curry’s outside shooting with Butler’s inside scoring, along with defense led by Butler and Draymond Green, can cause many problems for opponents. Plus, with a bench lineup including Kyle Anderson, Braxton Key, Buddy Hield, and De’Anthony Melton, the Warriors will at least have another chance at a championship.

Of course, the Warriors give up a lot of depth, young talent, and draft picks in this trade, but it’s something they must do.

For the Heat, this trade gives them enough patience for the future. By adding Jonathan Kuminga, they can further develop an already decent young core. They also have contracts from Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, and Gary Payton II that can be dealt with anytime.

Most importantly, the Heat will also gain more draft capital, which can be used conventionally in the future or added to other possible star trades.

However, if the Heat indeed put Butler on (or have already put him on) the trade market, the Warriors will certainly not be the only team interested. Despite being past his prime, he remains a player who can significantly change a team, capable of turning a bad team into a good one and even becoming a key piece for a championship contender, especially in the next one or two years.

So, where else could Butler go besides the Warriors? What kind of chips would it take to move the Heat? Sports journalist Andrew DBailey provided the following scenarios:

First, to the Rockets

Trade proposal: Butler for Cam Whitmore, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green, Jock Landale, the 2030 first-round pick, and the 2031 first-round pick swap. The reason is that Houston’s young core proved last season that they might be closer to a competitive team than most people thought. They already have a near All-Star player in Sengun and several potential future All-Stars still on rookie contracts.

For Miami, this trade provides them with Brooks’ declining contract, which will be close to $20 million in 2026-27. The Heat can use this contract in future trades. Landale’s contract is also very easy to move. Jeff Green’s contract expires at the end of this season. These players provide options for the team’s future flexibility.

Second, to the Spurs

Trade proposal: Butler for Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins, the 2025 first-round pick, and the 2031 first-round pick. Compared to the Rockets getting Butler, the Spurs might not see a huge leap in performance, but considering that Wemby’s rookie season has shown NBA star level, if they can exchange some young players and draft picks for Butler, then the play-in target is definitely not out of reach.

For the Heat, this trade might be more attractive than the Rockets’. Because San Antonio’s draft picks have fewer attached conditions (the Rockets’ proposal includes a pick swap). This trade would give Miami two young players instead of one, with Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan potentially becoming the core of the future.

Zach Collins, though not a big-name player, has the ability to shoot from the outside, which might provide Miami with some creative lineup options, allowing Bam Adebayo to function as a playmaking forward and create opportunities for shooters after driving and drawing defenses.

Third, to the Nuggets

Trade proposal: Butler and Alec Burks for Michael Porter Jr., Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji, and the 2031 first-round pick swap. This trade might weaken Denver’s depth, but it would also give them a more dynamic, playoff-suited top-tier roster.

The Denver Nuggets were heavily criticized this offseason for losing Bones Hyland, but with upgrades to their bench and the growth of young players, they still have a chance to be stronger in the 2024-25 season. However, this is not entirely guaranteed, especially in the Western Conference.

If the Nuggets feel near the trade deadline that they might miss out on a championship opportunity during Jokic’s peak, such aggressive moves are worth considering. Because no player can better utilize Butler’s cutting and penetration abilities than Jokic. The duo of Jokic and Butler would provide the Nuggets with another offensive option in crucial moments, even surpassing the regular combination of Jokic and Murray.

For the Heat, this trade does not provide many draft picks (because the Nuggets really don’t have many available draft picks), but Peyton Watson is one of the most promising emerging defenders in the league, and Julian Strawther looks likely to become an efficient three-point shooter.

Fourth, to the Lakers

Trade proposal: Butler and Josh Richardson for D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and Gabe Vincent, the 2029 first-round pick, and the 2031 first-round pick.

Although the Lakers have been linked with many rumors, Butler joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis actually seems the most plausible. Bringing in Butler might cause some spacing issues. When he and Davis are on the court together, it might seem crowded, but he is clearly a talent upgrade.

LeBron is about to turn 40, and the Lakers need to take some aggressive measures to win him another championship ring.

For Miami, in this trade, the Heat might request including Austin Reaves instead of Gabe Vincent. Regardless, this trade allows the Heat to obtain some valuable draft picks. By 2029, LeBron and Butler may have long left, and Davis might be past his prime, making the Lakers’ first-round pick possibly a top 3-5 pick.