Jimmy Butler is reportedly leaving the Miami Heat for the Golden State Warriors, with the deal expected to be finalized on Wednesday night, according to the Associated Press. The six-time All-Star forward is also said to have agreed to a two-year, $111 million contract extension with the Warriors, which will keep him with the team through the 2026-27 season.
After the news broke, Butler posted lyrics from a song on X, hinting at his move with the line, “Welcome to the Wild Wild West, where the dogs don’t sleep, and the sun don’t set.”
In return, the Heat will receive forwards Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a 2025 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected) from the Warriors, along with power forward PJ Tucker from the Utah Jazz as part of the multi-team trade.
The trade follows a difficult season for both Butler and the Heat. Butler had been with the Heat for six seasons, but his time there was marked by struggles. Despite being eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension from Miami, the deal was never offered. Throughout his time in Miami, Butler’s appearances were limited, with the highest number of games played in a season being 64 during the 2022-23 campaign.
In January, Jimmy Butler was suspended by the Miami Heat three times for repeatedly violating team rules and engaging in conduct harmful to the team. This behavior included leaving the team’s shootaround after being told he wouldn’t start and missing a flight. Most recently, Butler was suspended indefinitely on January 27. His last game was on January 21, a 116-107 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
So far this season, Butler has played and started in 25 games, averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game for the Heat.
During his time in Miami, Butler helped lead the team to two NBA Finals and three Eastern Conference Finals appearances. He is third on the Heat’s all-time list for playoff points, behind only LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and was named an All-Star twice with the team.
This move to Golden State will mark Butler’s fifth team in his 14-year NBA career, following stints with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Heat.
The trade is set to be finalized just before the NBA’s trade deadline, and the Warriors will face the Heat in Miami on March 25.