Jimmy Butler is expected to miss a large part of the 2026-27 season after he tore his right ACL in January. The six-time All-Star told ESPN’s Anthony Slater last month that he expects to be a “top player” after completing his rehab, but his return date remains uncertain.
On Wednesday, the NBA insider gave the latest intel on the Golden State Warriors forward’s status amid trade rumors.
When will Jimmy Butler Return?
Butler’s season-ending injury happened on Jan. 19 during a game against his former team, the Miami Heat. In the third quarter of that highly anticipated showdown, he collided with Heat guard Davion Mitchell before his right knee buckled.
Roughly three weeks later, he underwent successful surgery. Unsurprisingly, neither the veteran forward nor the Dubs gave a fixed timetable for his return.
On Tuesday’s NBA Today, Slater gave the latest on the 37-year-old star’s rehab.
“ I’ve talked to people that have been around Jimmy Butler recently, and they say he’s a little over five months from the ACL surgery. He’s turned a corner a little bit in the last few weeks. He still can’t (do) unrestricted run, sprint…but they feel like he’s making progress. There’s probably an unfair burden being put on him to come back in the January, February range, around 11, 12 months (after injury) and boost them midseason,” Slater said.
Butler’s health is a major issue for the Warriors heading into the 2026-27 season. Without him, the Dubs will rely even more on 38-year-old Stephen Curry to carry the offense.
The Warriors retained Kristaps Porziņģis, the 7-foot-3 center who has played just 74 games over the past two seasons. They also drafted Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick, but his impact is still unknown. Lendeborg has shown potential in the summer league, but the regular season is an entirely different ballgame.
Moses Moody’s absence due to a ruptured left patellar tendon is another major factor affecting the Warriors as they try to wait for Butler to return.
With Butler’s availability in doubt, reports emerged once free agency started late last month that the Warriors could trade him. More specifically, a few NBA insiders predicted that the team would try to move him for the Washington Wizards’ Anthony Davis. The popular narrative was that if the Dubs could get AD, LeBron James could follow.
However, the Bay Area team assured Butler before surgery that it has no interest in trading him, according to The Athletic’s Nick Friedell. Early this month, NBA insider Marc J. Spears also tweeted that the Wizards are not listening to offers for Davis.
The NBA is a little over three weeks into free agency, so that anything can happen. Regardless, Butler is making progress in his rehab and is hoping to play next season wherever that may be.
