Jimmy Butler had great potential when he arrived at Golden State, but his time with the Warriors ended painfully in January because of an ACL tear. The $57 million contract that is about to expire is now worth more on the trade market than Butler could be on the court as the offseason draws near.

Heavy.com NBA insider Sean Deveney told Golden State's front office the hard truth this summer in a report.

"The Dubs know it would be a cold move to trade Butler as he is rehabbing from an ACL tear, but moving Butler's contract is their only path to a major trade addition. If you want Giannis, you're gonna have to be a jerk and deal Jimmy," Deveney wrote.

Butler's contract is crucial in this case, and the numbers support that. Giannis Antetokounmpo has roughly $120 million left on his contract over the next two seasons, and major trades must match NBA salaries.

The only contract on the Warriors' books that satisfies the mathematical equation is Butler's $57 million expiring contract.

ESPN's Anthony Slater revealed that Golden State is unwilling to include Draymond Green in any trade package, which is another factor influencing the Warriors' offseason calculations.

Butler's expiring contract becomes even more crucial to any hypothetical framework as a result of that decision, which effectively limits what the Warriors can offer Milwaukee.

According to a trade proposal put forth by Pincus, the Bucks would receive Butler, Brandin Podziemski, and four first-round picks in return for Antetokounmpo.

The haul of picks and a young, developing player like Podziemski could provide Milwaukee, which finished 32–50 under Doc Rivers and is obviously in transition, with a solid starting point for a rebuild.

Golden State may be resolving other roster puzzles this summer besides the Giannis pursuit. There might be more issues if LeBron James moves to the Bay.

Where Does Bronny James Fit in a Warrior Rebuild?

If LeBron ends up in Golden State, the James camp will almost certainly lobby for Bronny to follow. Whether the Lakers block him or just waive him and take the $2.3 million cap hit is the true question.

Golden State has the 54th pick in this month's draft, and the value is identical to the Lakers' 55th pick two years ago, which they used on Bronny.

He has demonstrated enough in 69 games and an average of just 8.1 minutes per game to be more than just a well-known last name, but the Warriors have legitimate concerns about tampering with a draft-night trade that occurs just six days before free agency opens.

The Warriors face a more difficult question, even if the logistics work out. Can a team built around LeBron James, who is almost 42 years old, afford to spend a roster spot on a player who averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists the previous season? That reality could trump even a reunion of family on a roster chasing a title window.

What do you think about this potential trade? Comment down below.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta