Jimmy Butler could be one of the most sought-after trade targets this offseason. His contract situation and comments from Pat Riley appear to indicate the Heat could part ways with the dynamic star.
The Warriors could wind up losing shooting guard Klay Thompson, who is bound for free agency. Golden State might not be in the best spot to pick up another large contract in his place, but that won't stop fans from dreaming, particularly after Butler's Instagram posts.
Butler has been posting about a trip to the Bay Area, which has included a stop at Stanford's shopping center, dinner at Nobu Palo Alto and an appearance of Fred Again at the Frost Amphitheater in Stanford, according to SF Gate.
MORE: Which teams could be Jimmy Butler trade destinations?
The posts, all to Butler's Instagram story, which disappear after 24 hours, showed him making a number of stops in the Stanford area. That led to some fans speculating whether Butler could be a trade candidate for Golden State.
👀 trade confirmed pic.twitter.com/qvIjQkk2o3
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) June 7, 2024
Butler might be playing on an expensive contract, but that might not rule out the Warriors making a move for the star. The Athletic's Anthony Slater noted in a May report that if Miami decides to explore trades for Butler, "I would expect the Warriors to enter the conversation to at least some degree."
Is Jimmy Butler a free agent?
Butler is locked in through the 2024-25 season. He also has a player option for the 2025-26 season.
His contract makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NBA.
| Season | Salary |
| 2024-25 | $48,798,677 |
| 2025-26 | $52,413,394 (PO) |
The Miami Herald reported earlier in the offseason Butler wanted his contract to be extended to a three-year, $161.7 million deal this offseason.
Warriors cap space 2024-25
The salary cap can always be manipulated a little bit, but the Warriors are not in a great spot for finances.
Spotrac lists the Warriors as being more than $108 million over the cap. That includes a cap hit of more than $55 million for Stephen Curry and over $50 million combined for Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green.
Needless to say, it would take some work in the books to get Butler's deal to fit in Golden State.
