Former NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler was traded to the Golden State Warriors last night, following a series of disputes with the Heat organization. In this trade, the Warriors received nothing other than Butler, the Heat received Kyle Anderson, Andrew Wiggins, P.J Tucker and a first round pick in the upcoming draft courtesy of the Warriors, the Utah Jazz received Dennis Schroder, and the Detroit Pistons were compensated with Lindy Waters III and Josh Richardson. Butler, who has a history of leaving teams on bad terms, requested a trade on January 3rd, and would be suspended by the Heat 3 separate times for missing a team flight, walking out of practice, and walking out of a pre game shoot around respectively. Butler has previously left the Bulls due to arguments with Coach Fred Hoiberg, the TImberwolves due to thinking that teammates Karl Anthony-Towns and Jeff Teague did not have work ethic. Additionally, he left the 76ers organization as he believed Tobias Harris was prioritized over him.
So what would be a fair grade for this trade and the teams involved?
Warriors: C
While the Warriors acquiring Butler may seem like a trade on caliber with the recent Luka Doncic trade, there is one significant difference between the two: the age of the players involved. Doncic Just turned 25 and will likely become the future for the Lakers, post LeBron. Meanwhile, Butler is a decade older, and in acquiring him the Warriors traded away Wiggins who with the right development could become a stars. Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Butler now make up the Warriors’ big 3, and all 3 of them are on the wrong side of 30. That’s not to say they can’t be successful, but that is to say that they will have to be successful quick if they don’t want this trade to ruin their future.
Heat: D+
So you’re probably thinking I’m crazy by giving the Heat such a low grade here, but hear me out for just a second. While Butler was getting himself suspended a lot and it was obvious he had no intent to play in Miami, he was still under contract! There was so much unused leverage here that could have gotten the Heat a better package, because they were choosing to trade him and were not obligated to by any means. Kyle Anderson and P.J Tucker are kind of whatever, and Andrew Wiggins and a first round pick are some amazing takeaways, but there was so much more the team could have taken away from this trade.
Pistons: A
While Lindy Waters III and Josh Richardson may seem like mediocre acquisitions, this is a genius move in disguise on the Pistons part, and the first step towards a successful rebuild of the franchise that was at one point 3-28 last season. Keep in mind that the only thing that Detroit needed to give up was, well nothing. The Pistons did not lose anything in this trade, however that works. The fact that Josh Richardson was capital H I M, HIM when he was playing his first stint in Miami, as well as the fact that they didn’t give anything up in the trade and you have the realization that if he can stay healthy, he can be a valuable asset to a young Pistons squad that is already looking like a geyser of potential, ready to erupt and become contenders.
Jazz: C+
This grade is going to be short and sweet. The Jazz traded aging star for aging star by getting rid of P.J Tucker and acquiring Dennis Schroder. While this most likely will not hurt them in the long run, it will not help either and overall feels kind of pointless on their part.
