Jimmy Butler on Heat departure and trade to Warriors: ‘I’m happy to be wanted again’
Jimmy Butler got what he wanted: A trade out of Miami and his max contract extension.
Shortly after Butler’s move to the Golden State Warriors became official on Thursday night, he spoke to the media for the first time since the night he returned from his first Heat-issued suspension on Jan. 17. Since then, Butler was suspended by the Heat two more times before eventually being traded to the Warriors.
“I’m at a really good place mentally,” Butler said during his introductory press conference with the Warriors on Thursday night from Los Angeles, where his new team took on the Lakers. “This mini, mini break that I didn’t want, but had during the year, I got to spend more time with my kids, more time with my loved ones to reflect on a lot. But I’m in shape, I’m ready to go. I’ve been training, I’ve been running up and down, laughing, smiling and having fun. But now I get to do one of the things that I love more than anything and that’s to compete.”
The Heat dealt Butler to the Warriors as part of a big five-team deal ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. In return, the Heat acquired Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick from the Warriors, and Davion Mitchell from the Toronto Raptors.
How does Butler reflect on his time with the Heat after the ugly ending to their relationship?
“I’m straight,” Butler said. “I don’t got too many bad things to say about them. I don’t. They gave me an opportunity. I felt like I did my job to the highest level. I have so much respect for that organization, for the people who are running that organization and for my former teammates. And I’m going to wish them the best.”
So why did Butler decide to ask for a trade from the Heat?
“That’s a good question, actually,” Butler said. “That is a good question. I don’t know. Maybe just a lot of talking back and forth, and sooner or later that talking has got to stop.”
Butler said he expects to make his Warriors debut when they take on the Chicago Bulls on Saturday at United Center. He’ll wear No. 10 with Golden State after wearing No. 22 during his six seasons with the Heat.
Meanwhile, Butler’s old Heat number went to Wiggins. Once a question of whether the Heat would retire No. 22 for Butler, Wiggins will wear No. 22 with the Heat just like he did during his six seasons with the Warriors.
“This is a great choice,” Butler said when asked if the Warriors were his back-up option after it appeared that he was trying to land with the Phoenix Suns. “And the best part about everything is that I never say anything, so nobody actually really knows what’s really going on because it never comes from my mouth. So out of anything that’s been going on, I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be able to play basketball again, meaningful basketball at that. So, I always leave it at that.”
The 35-year-old Butler now teams up with 36-year-old 11-time All-Star Stephen Curry and 34-year-old four-time All-Star Draymond Green in Golden State, as they look to make a run at an NBA championship during this late stage of their careers. Butler has never won an NBA title, while Curry and Green have already won four NBA championships with the Warriors.
“That they always play winning basketball and they’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Butler said of what appeals to him about playing with Curry and Green. “I think that’s what I respect most about those guys and they’ve won at so many different levels, obviously at the highest level and done it multiple times. So not only can I bring some things to this team, I think they can teach me a whole lot.”
The Warriors have an uphill climb, entering Thursday in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 25-25 record.
“I’m glad that I get the opportunity to get here and help, get us to winning and do something special,” Butler added. “I think that’s why I’m here and I will do my best to do what everybody wants and that’s win a championship. I mean it.”
As part of the move, Butler declined the $52.4 million player option in his current contract for next season to sign a two-year max extension worth $111 million with the Warriors — the same extension that he once wanted from the Heat. This extension will pay Butler $54.1 million next season when he’ll be 36 years old and $56.8 million for the 2026-27 season when he’ll be 37 years old.
However, Butler pushed back against the notion that the extension was the biggest reason behind his move to the Warriors.
“I’m not going to say it was a big part. But I’m happy about it,” he said. “I am happy about it. I think the biggest part was just getting me to be able to play basketball again. I just want to be able to go out there and do what I’ve been doing for a very long time and have fun and smile and rip and run. And I feel like I’m just doing cardio the majority of the game. So I’m very, very, very happy that I’m not getting suspended no more.”
But not getting that extension from the Heat last offseason proved to be damaging for Butler’s relationship with his former team. According to multiple sources, Butler’s relationship with the Heat took a turn last offseason when Heat president Pat Riley challenged Butler publicly during his season-ending news conference and the Heat declined to give Butler a two-year max extension.
“Speculation is just what it is, though,” Butler said of all the outside noise surrounding his departure from the Heat. “I like to let people think that what’s going on is really going on, when it’s only one side of every story. I don’t have anything to say. I’m good. All of that is behind me. I’m moving forward and I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be wanted again, so I’ll leave it at.”
Did Butler feel like he wasn’t wanted by the Heat?
“Maybe at times,” he said. “But like I said, who cares now, because I’m here. And I would like to think that I’m wanted here.”
One of the defining moments of Butler’s breakup with the Heat was when he said he lost his “joy” on the court in early January. He was suspended for the first time soon after.
But Butler said he has since re-discovered his joy with a fresh start.
“I got a feeling I’m going to be back in a big way, too,” Butler continued. “So I’m smiling. Like I said, I’ve been going at it. I’ve been training. I’ve been doing everything I’m supposed to be doing. I know that I have my joy back now. I’m in a different situation, different group of guys. I can’t wait to get out there and compete. I’ve had all the family time that I need. I’m going to be ready to go.”
Butler then joked that his only regret about his Heat exit is that he won’t be able to visit the “BIGFACE” coffee shop that he recently opened in Miami’s Design District as frequently.
“We’re going to have to figure out a way to get one in San Fran,” Butler said.
Butler averaged 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 54 percent from the field in 25 games for the Heat this season prior to the trade. He has played in just five games since Dec. 21 because of an illness and the three Heat-issued suspensions that he served before being traded to the Warriors.
I’m just so happy to be playing basketball again, honestly,” Butler emphasized.
The messy breakup between the Heat and Butler doesn’t change the fact that he established himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history during his time in Miami.
Butler helped lead the Heat to three Eastern Conference finals appearances and two NBA Finals appearances since joining the team during the 2019 offseason. He was selected for two NBA All-Star Games and made an All-NBA team three times during his first five seasons with the Heat before being dealt to the Warriors this season.
The Heat thanked Jimmy in a tweet minutes after the trade became official on Thursday night. It won’t be long until they meet again, as Butler and the Warriors face the Heat in Miami on March 25.
“When March comes around, we need that like we need everything else,” Butler said with a grin. “Before you all even ask, we take the dubs that we can get around here. But I’ve got a lot of love for a lot of people over there in that organization and I just want them to know that I am very grateful for the relationships that I have built and that I will keep for a lifetime.”
