NBA trade rumors: Warriors have ‘shifted’ focus to acquiring Heat SF Jimmy Butler

With Kevin Durant uninterested, the Warriors have reportedly reverted to targeting Jimmy Butler.

After Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant expressed disinterest in a reunion with the Golden State Warriors, the Dubs have reprioritized trying to acquire forward Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, according to a report by Marc Stein. The report suggests a shift in the front office’s strategy, which appeared to move their focus away from Butler toward Durant after Butler said he was unwilling to negotiate an extension with the Warriors.

“The Warriors have now shifted their trade focus to acquiring Jimmy Butler, @TheSteinLine has learned, after abandoning the pursuit of Kevin Durant,” Stein said via Twitter.

While Butler’s refusal to sign a long-term deal with the Warriors is an understandable concern, it’s not necessarily a dealbreaker. First off, Butler has clearly been eyeing a move to the Phoenix Suns, hoping to join Durant and Devin Booker. In other words, Butler has been incentivized to try and force the Heat into dealing him to his top target. If he is traded to the Warriors and the Suns are no longer an option, his approach to negotiations could change.

However, even in a scenario where Butler did not want to be with the Warriors long-term. He has an opportunity to become a free agent by declining a player option at the end of the season. If he wants to score a big deal in free agency, he has a pretty massive incentive to play well down the stretch with the Warriors and rebuild some value after his tumultuous first half in Miami.

The fact is, even with questions about his effort, Butler has still put up solid numbers this season when he’s been available. Butler has averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 30.6 minutes per game across 25 games with the Heat.

Stein and Jake Fischer added further reporting that the Warriors would likely be including recently-acquired Dennis Schröder in a trade.

“The Heat are known to be prioritizing the most short-term money possible in potential trade returns for Butler to preserve maximum salary-cap flexibility for the summer of 2026, so Schröder’s expiring contract would likely be a key piece if Golden State made a move for Butler that requires it to absorb his $48.8 million for this season,” wrote Stein and Jake Fischer.