The Golden State Warriors won 135-112 over the Miami Heat on Monday, but their loss will have a greater impact. During the victory, Warriors’ star forward and team leader Jimmy Butler III tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season.
Paul Pierce Declares Warriors’ Championship Run Over After Jimmy Butler III Injury
The Warriors aimed to be active in the trade market before the February 5 deadline to make one more run with their star trio Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green – with Butler central to both offense and defense. Now, with one of their stars and core contributors out, the Warriors have little chance at winning another ring, according to one former 10-time All-Star.
Former Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce believed the Warriors would be a play-in team before the injury. The Warriors are 25-20 and currently eighth in the Western Conference, which would place them in the play-in tournament if the season ended today.
“When I look at the Warriors before this injury, they were like a play-in team right now,” Pierce explained. “So I just think with this injury – and hopefully Jimmy comes back healthy – but then again he’s a year older, coming back next year dealing with an injury.”
Paul Pierce says with the Jimmy Butler injury it officially closed Warriors championship window
“You always felt if you had Steph and Draymond you always felt like they were a Cinderella team. A threat to make a run but with this injury it closes all that to make a run”
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Pierce sees Butler’s injury as ending the Warriors’ title hopes this year. “I think this officially closes the window – any kind of window – that Golden State would have had on a championship,” Pierce added. “Even though they’re a play-in team. I’ve seen a play-in team get to the finals.”
However, Pierce thought healthy veterans gave the Warriors a chance to make another run. “You always felt if you had Steph and Draymond you always felt like they were a Cinderella team,” said Pierce. “A threat to make a run but with this injury it closes all that to make a run.”
There has been speculation that the Warriors could trade Butler and use his salary to match another star, like Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks, who is also injured. Butler is owed $54,126,540, with an expiring contract next season for $56,832,773, and will become a free agent after the 2026-27 season. However, it does not appear that the Warriors will be trading Butler, at least not according to early reports.
Before the injury, Butler was having an excellent season, with career-best shooting numbers: 51.9% from the floor, 37.6% from three, and 86.4% at the free-throw line. In 38 games, he averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
Although Butler may not be dealt, it will be interesting to see how the Warriors approach the trade deadline and whether they can make a move that could potentially prove Pierce wrong and reshape their postseason outlook.
