This NBA trade season is going down as one of the biggest in NBA history.
Yesterday, star Jimmy Butler was traded from the Miami Heat to the Golden State Warriors (GSW), to team up with four-time champ and two-time MVP Steph Curry.
Jimmy has signed a two-year US$121 million (NZ$213M) deal.
This was a multi-team deal, sending GSW’s Andrew Wiggins to the Heat and Dennis Schroeder to the Utah Jazz (he has now been traded to the Detroit Pistons). Additionally, Lindy Waters III from GSW, and Josh Richardson from the Heat, are headed to the Detroit Pistons.
Bet you didn’t know NBA trades could go so in-depth, huh?
When these trades happen, we fanatics are quick to argue about who won/lost the trade.
So, who’s the winner here?
While Jimmy's tenure in Miami had plenty of highlights, including two Finals appearances, the tail end of Jimmy’s Miami career has NOT been pretty.
Controversy regarding his longevity in Miami started mid-December when he allegedly demanded a trade,
In January, Butler said “he no longer had joy for the game of basketball” in a post-game press conference. When asked if he could get this back in Miami, he answered: “Probably not”.
Butler’s been given two suspensions by the Heat, missed a team flight and stormed out of training. His behaviour has seen him sitting since January 21.
It’s no secret that team president Pat Riley and Jimmy have a negative relationship. This erosion is a factor in Jimmy’s desire to get out. However, when rumours began to swirl about Jimmy asking for a trade, Riley blatantly said: “We are not trading Butler.”
He’s sure eating those words now.
There is no doubt that Butler is an extremely talented basketball player. As mentioned, he’s led the Heat to two finals appearances and has a cabinet of accolades - six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA member and five-time all-defensive team member.
He is an elite two-way player. But is that enough?
His talent hasn’t always superseded his behaviour. This is his fifth NBA team, and all of his departures have ended in a similar, ugly fashion.
The fire blazing trail he’s left behind is a reflection of the person Butler can be, which could be dangerous for GSW.
His points per game average has dropped from 20.8 to 17.0, but this comes as a result of lowered minutes and lack of motivation, not a decline in skill.
When Jimmy is motivated and committed, the 35-year-old is UNREAL.
Defensively for the Warriors, he can be a real difference maker, They’ve dropped from fourth to ninth in defensive rating. Coach Steve Kerr will be hoping to climb back up that ladder to form a championship-quality defence, in which Butler can be of assistance.
While Steph Curry is still in All-Star form, it’s a smart move to get another superstar alongside him to chase the side's fifth title in ten years.
If Butler keeps his head screwed on and brings out ‘Playoff Jimmy’, this could be a lethal duo.
For the Heat, Wiggins has had a good season, averaging 2.2 threes per game, and shooting at 38% from behind the arc. He slots in nicely alongside All Star teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
While they didn’t receive a direct replacement for the talent of Butler, they saved the burden of taking on a heavy salary and cut their luxury-tax bill significantly.
With a relatively young core and a potential quality first-round pick, it strengthens the Heat's foundation for years of success with longevity and continuity.
Sounds pretty good to me.
So much can be said about the intricacies of this trade, but I’ll have to make the big call of giving the Heat the W on this one.
The NBA trade deadline has officially ended, so all this excitement comes to an end. Eyes now move to seeing how all of these teams will function, and who will come out on top!
