The Golden State Warriors are expected to explore a wide range of possibilities ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, but an in-season move involving Jimmy Butler appears highly unlikely after the veteran forward suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
Marc Stein reports in The Stein Line that general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made that stance clear on Tuesday, and that the message wasn’t simply public posturing.
As Stein points out, Golden State did trade an injured player last season after De’Anthony Melton tore his ACL, but the circumstances were very different.
Melton was on a relatively small expiring contract, making a deal far easier to execute. Butler, on the other hand, is owed $54.1 million this season and $56.8 million in 2026/27, creating significant financial and logistical hurdles for any potential trade.
There’s also the on-court factor working in Butler’s favor. Since acquiring him last season, the Warriors have gone 46-22 in regular-season games when Butler has been available, and the organization still believes he can return from the injury in time to contribute before the end of the 2026/27 campaign.
Beyond contracts and wins, Stein notes that personal relationships may also play a role. Dunleavy was a teammate of Butler’s during their time with the Chicago Bulls before Dunleavy retired as a player, and the two have known each other for more than a decade.
That history could make the Warriors’ front office especially hesitant to move on from Butler while he is still in the early stages of recovering from a serious injury.
