Jimmy Butler’s 2025-26 campaign ended early when he tore his right ACL on Jan. 19. The Golden State Warriors now lack a clear second option behind Stephen Curry, and the star forward’s future on the team is up in the air.
The Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches rapidly, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. must act quickly to devise a plan for the rest of the season.
Warriors’ General Manager Reveals Plans About Jimmy Butler’s Future
Golden State lost to the Toronto Raptors, 127-145, in a high-scoring blowout defeat on Jan. 20. Dunleavy addressed the media before the game at the Chase Center. One reporter asked him about possibly trading Butler’s contract before the deadline.
“I don’t envision that, but now that you’ve brought it up, I guess I’d say the vision for him is to give us a boost next year, the same way he did last year when he arrived. At some point during the season, he’ll return, and he’ll be the player he’s been,” responded Dunleavy.
The Warriors acquired Butler for Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a protected first-round pick before last season’s Feb. 6 trade deadline. They sat at a middling 25-26 record before this date. Butler joined the squad, and Golden State immediately felt the six-time All-Star’s impact. He averaged 17.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game after the deadline, and the team finished the campaign with a 48-34 record. Dunleavy hopes Butler’s return has a similar effect for the 2026-27 season.
Butler’s contract situation becomes complicated when diving into the details. The Warriors owe him $54.1 million this season and $56.8 million for the 2026-27 campaign. However, He likely will not play until close to, or even after, this time next season. Butler hits unrestricted free agency in 2027, which only gives him a few months left on the court for this contract. He also turns 37 years old on Sept. 14, and recovering from career-threatening injuries later in a player’s career could take longer than for younger players.
Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, released a statement following the injury. Lee envisions the star forward winning an NBA championship before he retires. However, without Butler, Golden State likely lacks the offensive firepower to contend in a tough Western Conference. The team would have to make significant upgrades in preparation for a possible title run next season. Butler could still win a ring, but if the Warriors are not contenders in the 2027-28 campaign, he might sign elsewhere as a free agent.
Jonathan Kuminga officially requested a trade from Golden State. Head coach Steve Kerr left him out of the rotation for 16 consecutive games, but he played 21 minutes off the bench against Toronto. Kuminga put up 20 points and five rebounds, shooting 7-of-10 from the field in the loss. Does this performance solidify a rotation spot for the 23-year-old moving forward? Only time will tell.
