The Miami Heat traded star forward Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
Butler, 35, was at odds with the Heat over his contract and had requested a trade last month. He has been suspended by Miami three times for conduct detrimental to the team amid his trade request saga.
The Warriors are reportedly sending Andrew Wiggins and a protected first-round pick to Miami.
Butler has averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 25 games so far this season, shooting a career-best 54.0% from the field.
In early January, Butler said he had lost his joy on the court after a loss to the Indiana Pacers, and answered “probably not” when asked if he could regain that joy with the Heat. The team suspended him the next day and announced in a statement it would listen to trade offers for Butler.
After returning for three games in mid-January from his initial seven-game suspension, Butler was suspended a second time for missing a team flight, and then a third time for leaving practice early. He has not appeared in a game since Jan. 21.
In addition to acquiring Butler, Golden State is reportedly signing him to a two-year, $121 million extension, ESPN reported.
Golden State, with an aging superstar in Stephen Curry, are in 10th place in the Western Conference.
In Butler, the Warriors are acquiring a player who twice led Miami to the NBA finals, once in 2020 and again in 2023. Last May, after the Heat were eliminated from the playoffs, team president Pat Riley balked at signing Butler to a similar extension, saying the team had a year to decide on the contract. Riley’s comments reportedly struck a nerve with Butler, who grew discontent with only a player option for next season remaining on his deal.
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