With the recent surge in trades between key players amongst NBA teams, the controversial trade between the Golden State Warriors (GSW) and the Miami Heat regarding the transfer of previous Miami Heat’s core player Jimmy Butler on Feb. 6 swept the media by storm.
The deal consisted of a multi-team trade, with the GSW receiving Jimmy Butler in exchange for forwards Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson, along with a protected first-round pick in 2025 to the Miami Heat and guard Dennis Schröder to the Utah Jazz.
Despite skepticism amongst fans on how Jimmy Butler would perform, Butler did not disappoint in his debut game against the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 8, scoring 25 points while also delivering four assists and two rebounds in the sweep win of 132-111.
After witnessing Butler’s outstanding performance, GSW fans expressed their positive outlook on the trade.
“I do think people are worried because we traded away our second-best player, Andrew Wiggins, to the Miami Heat for an aging Jimmy Butler,” Kevin Kim (10), avid GSW supporter, said. “But looking at the first game, I think it provides much-needed space as the Warriors are the third-to-last team that shoots free throws in the league. On the other hand, Butler is notorious for averaging six-to-seven free throws his entire career, explaining as for the much-needed spacing.”
Fans analyzed the team’s playstyle to evaluate whether the trade would benefit the GSW. With the GSW having a more open approach to playing basketball with their skilled three-point shooter Stephen Curry, fans believed Butler was a good addition to the team.
“Additionally, Butler has a lot more space to work in the midrange since our team is so focused on three-pointers, and so he can definitely play the game he likes to play,” Kevin said. “This is really important since there are only 30 games left, and the GSW need to make a run [to advance into playoffs]. I also think Butler has a lot of added impact to the team as a veteran to teach other players, especially the young like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski.”
Others expressed an unexpected yet pleasant surprise at Butler’s impact on the Warriors’ cooperation and chimed in with an optimistic evaluation of the trade based on Butler’s performance in his debut games.
“I thought that since Butler was getting older and wasn’t performing at his best, he wouldn’t be a good replacement for Andrew Wiggins,” Jihu Koo (10), NBA enthusiast, said. “But the past few games show that he is a great addition to the Warriors because he adds variety to the team’s game. I hope his performance doesn’t worsen over time like the guard Buddy Hield’s when he first came.”
Although fans have a relatively positive attitude towards Butler’s performance and cooperation with the team, GSW fans are yet to see whether Butler can live up to their expectations as a key player in their team play.
