Why did the Warriors decided to change for Jimmy Butler: ‘Win? I win? That is the adjustment ‘

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Salt Lake City – At some point in recent days, Stephen Curry had a conversation with Kevin Durant that convinced him that a meeting was extremely unlikely, regardless of how much the group owned by Golden State Warriors and the main office “underestimated” Durant towards a return, as expressed by a team source.

Finally, the decision makers accepted the inevitable and pivot their plans of the NBA trade deadline to Jimmy Butler. Bradley Beal’s non -trade clause locked the Suns de Phoenix from the butler’s draw. This piece of immutable information allowed the general manager Mike Dunleavy, the owner Joe Lacob and the general manager Kirk Lacob a level of patience, even while Butler positioned on his lack of interest of warriors with the hope of a miracle in Phoenix, where a Longer maximum extension I expected.

Butler and the warriors can be seen as support plans for each other, a marriage of circumstances between two sides they want, and probably still want, others. But they are here now. The Warriors used their influence as Miami Heat’s best leftover suitor to turn to Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schröder, Kyle Anderson and a 2025 Top-10 Protected First Rounder for Butler, in what they think is a modest outgoing package for the copro so They desperately longed for.

Was agreed on Wednesday afternoonGenerating a difficult scene on the floor in Salt Lake City. Wiggins, heating at medium speed with an scared look, was arrested on his way back to the costumes for a conversation he had feared. It was the first and hardest of the four conversations that coach Steve Kerr had with the four players who come out. Kerr then gathered the entire team, kicked the journalists and had what Kevon Looney said he was “there” with the most emotional meetings he experienced in his decade with the Warriors.

“Wiggs is one of my favorite players that I have trained,” Kerr said. “Just a beautiful soul. Just a wonderful human being. We do not hang that banner in (2022) without it. Everything that brings every day, laughter, smile, joy. I’m going to miss it. “

Deeper

Commercial degrees of Jimmy Butler: The multiple team agreement finally ends the saga

But everything in this ruthless business moves quickly. How fast? Curry said he had already begun to think about Butler Fit as he simultaneously played Wednesday night’s game against jazz. At halftime, Curry grabbed his phone and sent Butler a welcome text message. Butler responded quickly.

“It was a very nice message,” Curry said.

Curry and Kerr were aware, but especially outside commercial discussions last week. They have had concerns about the idea of ​​the butler. This was an orchestrated decision and executed by Dunleavy (a former teammate in Butler in Chicago), Lacob and the main office. Nothing would have been done without at least a warm green light of Curry, so you can bet that he gave it, but Curry has never wanted to exercise the power of the staff because, in part, how he would compromise his position as a solid teammate and leader .

“You knew all the talks that were happening in the last week,” Curry said. “But until the main office presses the trigger, you don’t necessarily think something is going to happen.”

The Warriors exchange Wiggins for Butler at the top of their rotation. That turns a lasting wing of 3 yd into a scorer and a tone marker of greater use, superior to remove the pressure from the curry. Schröder and Anderson were more auxiliary players in a crowded rotation. The 2025 Top-10 Protected of First Round was seen as expendable, team sources said, considering that the Warriors had explored the draft and did not love the group of prospects in the late lottery and beyond.

Then, the most risky part of this trade could have been the contractual aspect that exceeded it in the finish line. The Warriors agreed to give Butler an extension of two years and $ 112 million. He declined his player option in the process. Therefore, it is essentially an additional one -year commitment and $ 58 million with Butler for its 37 -year -old season, aligning their contract with Curry’s and Draymond Green.

That clounts the future books of Golden State, especially taking into account the imminent free agency restricted to Jonathan Kumina and the main desire of the main office, said sources of the team, to bring back to Kuminga to what is expected to be a figure expensive

But Butler clearly needed an additional security level for this association to get off with the right foot. Then the warriors delivered it.

“He signed an extension is great,” Curry said. “Knowing that he is committed to this next race … I know there was a lot of drama there (in Miami). Who really knows what the story is? We hope to have a motivated and committed Jimmy.

“I can put myself in his shoes. He has been far from the game for a minute. He has been frustrated for any reason. When you enter a situation that is a new beginning, it establishes the expectations that we are all accustomed to we need to win. We all prosper that energy. It does not mean that it is easy, it does not mean that there are no challenges. “

Steph Curry in Jimmy Butler: “I know there was a lot of drama there (in Miami). Who really knows what the story is. We hope to have a motivated and committed Jimmy. “

Curry sends a text message to Butler in half a time tonight to welcome you. Butler sends a text message with a “pleasant” message. pic.twitter.com/w9dex8OHDG

– Anthony Slater (@anthonyvslater) February 6, 2025

The Warriors began to explore Durant’s viability at the end of last week and, in the process, Green’s name was floating. It is plausible that it would have been sent to Phoenix if some of the theoretical structures would materialize. That possibility arose in one of The AtléticoIntel reports. Green said he never went to the main office to reassure that he would stay.

“No,” he said The Atlético Wednesday night. “I always talk to Mike. But, no, what will happen will happen. The ninety -five percent of the things you worry about never come true. Yes (I exchanged), then it is what it is. My concerns do not stop him. So I wasn’t worried at all. I have been in a place of uncertainty in general. But what is going to be will be. To sit down and worry about that, this life is difficult enough to worry about what you can’t control. “

With the movement and extension of Butler, aligning the contracts of their three exclusive players, the warriors sent the opposite signal to Green. This is Dunleavy and Lacob committing to Curry, Green and Butler mounted.

“A thousand percent,” Green said. “That is the goal. That is what they have done. We appreciate it. “

There will be immediate questions about how well Green and Butler will coexist. Green brushed him.

“Win? I win? That is the adjustment. The winners win, ”said Green. “He is a winner. Perennial All-Star. Hard as nails. Just to do the job, however, it must be done. “

Looney, one of the wisest and most respected voices in the Warriors costumes, expressed the belief that Butler would fit well, giving an ironic turn. Looney has had several conversations with Wiggins about Butler. Wiggins was his teammate in Minnesota and “swears for him,” said Looney.

“I’m very sure,” Looney said. “We have had many different personalities, many different types. It usually works. Of the boys with whom I have spoken, the boys who have played with him, Wiggs says he is a great guy. From the perspective of a player, I heard it is great. All other things, the negotiations of the contract, you know how it is going. The team revolves a narrative, the media revolves a narrative, the player turns a narrative. I don’t want to enter all that. I know he is a winner. If you care to win, you can easily fit here. ”

As for the adjustment to Green, Looney has seen his controversial teammate get along with Demarcus Cousins, Chris Paul, David West, Andre Iguodala and many other teammates with great personalities.

“Boys like the one who are dogs, males alpha, respect other people like that,” Looney said. “They remain out of the other way. Draymond is a great connector. He is a great leader. It makes things happen on the floor and outside the court. “

There are also the questions on the court, which will begin to be answered in the next few days. Butler’s trade is expected to finish on Thursday, and it is likely to join the team in Chicago before his Saturday night against the Bulls. There was already talk in the costumes after the game about what type of lineup will work better, including a closure of small balls that will have Curry, Butler, Kumina and Green on the floor with Buddy Hield, Moses Moody or Brandin Podziemski.

“It will look different from what we are used to,” Curry said. “You can play, I’m sure, a little movement. But he is a shooting creator, a finalist, someone you have to take into account where he is on the floor. Play your own speed. You can reach the foul line, take advantage of the clashes. It is a competitor at the highest levels of high levels. I am excited to see how it looks. I’m going to see a lot of Miami movie to watch some of the sets that they like to run for him and what we can make the transition to our play book. “

It could work. It could be the final coffin in a dynasty that fades. But it does generate an additional increase in interest for a team that is currently in 25-25 after 50 games.

“The most important thing is only that it creates expectations, which I love,” said Curry. “I want to be in that kind of environment, whether you do it or not, that is significant basketball in which we all love and prosper. I think we will all be prepared for the challenge.”

(Photo by Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)