After Jimmy Butler’s devastating ACL injury sustained Monday night, the Warriors find themselves in a situation similar to one that occurred last season: A key contributor under contract no longer is able to play during a campaign where their NBA title hopes are alive and well.
Like they did with guard De’Anthony Melton last year, could Golden State move on from Butler with the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline right around the corner?
“I don’t envision that,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters before Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors at Chase Center.
In fact, the GM foresees the opposite for Butler, who was once his teammate on the Chicago Bulls.
“Now that you brought it up, I guess I’d say what I envision for him is to kind of give us a boost next year the same way he did last year when he arrived,” Dunleavy continued. “At some point during the season, him returning and being the player he’s been. I mean, at his age, what he’s doing this year to have the year he’s had is impressive.
“I think he’s got a style of game that can play for a long time with his skill, his physicality, his mind for the game. So, I guess my vision for him is him returning at some point between now and this time next year.”
The Warriors’ early title hopes during the 2024-25 NBA season took a hit when it was determined De’Anthony Melton needed season-ending surgery on his left ACL. Less than a month later, Golden State had traded the defensive-minded guard to the Nets as part of a deal for Dennis Schröder, with Brooklyn taking on what remained of Melton’s one-year, $12.8 million contract.
Melton is back with the Warriors now, and he said earlier this month on “Dubs Talk” that he understood the trade was just “business.” The situation wasn’t the same as Butler’s, of course, as Melton was on a one-year deal.
Butler provided Golden State with an immediate spark when he was acquired at last season’s trade deadline, and he signed a two-year, $112 million contract extension with the Warriors upon his arrival.
It’s clear Dunleavy and the Warriors’ front office are more than comfortable paying Butler what he is due as he works his way back from ACL surgery, which has yet to be scheduled, after the Warriors star was averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists during the 2025-26 season as Golden State’s second scorer behind Steph Curry.
“It’s a long road ahead, but it’s a very recoverable injury and we’re optimistic about it,” Dunleavy said. “We hope to get him out here as soon as we can.”
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