Jimmy Butler trade saga finally comes to an end as NBA star lands with shock team in yet another blockbuster deal
Yet another blockbuster NBA trade has dropped just a few hours before the league's Trade Deadline arrives. This time, one of the most prolonged trade sagas of the year has come to an end.
The Miami Heat are sending superstar swingman Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors as part of a massive and complicated five-team trade, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Miami is getting forward Andrew Wiggins and a protected first round pick from the Warriors in return.
Elsewhere in the deal, Miami received guard Dennis Schroder from Golden State before flipping him to the Utah Jazz in exchange for forward PJ Tucker.
A deal to send guard Kyle Anderson from the Warriors, through the Heat, and to the Toronto Raptors has appeared to have broken down. According to Charania, the Heat are keeping Anderson for now but may move him later.
Finally, the Warriors are sending guard Lindy Waters III to the Detroit Pistons. Detroit will also be getting guard Josh Richardson from the Heat.
The Miami Heat have traded wantaway superstar Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors
The Heat are receiving forward Andrew Wiggins and a first round pick from Golden State
Charania's sources also say that Butler was able to sign an extension with the Warriors, which was a rumored sticking point in preventing a deal with Golden State from being done.
Butler inked a two-year, $121million extension with Golden State through the 2026-27 season. He also declined his player option in the 2025-26 season.
Butler and the Heat had arrived at a stalemate in trade negotiations after the 35-year-old repeatedly demanded to be sent away from Miami in recent weeks.
It ended with the team indefinitely suspending Butler as team president Pat Riley looked to find a trade partner to move the wantaway star.
Now, the deal is done and the Heat get an incredibly good package of starters and role players while Butler can try and provide Warriors star Stephen Curry with one last run at an NBA title.
Butler's final weeks with the franchise were fraught with issues as he demanded to be moved, only for the team to initially push back on his request before eventually relenting.
That led to a post-game interview in early January where Butler said he wanted to 'get my joy back' in playing basketball, which he believed wasn't possible in Miami.
Those comments resulted in a seven-game suspension for Butler, which he served before returning to the team.
Butler is now off to join forces with Warriors superstar Steph Curry for one more shot at a title
The saga between Butler and Miami Heat team president Pat Riley has now come to an end
Butler was then suspended again for two games after missing a team flight.
It was just last week when the Heat suspended him indefinitely. Butler found out he wouldn't be starting in games going forward and that caused him to walk out of a practice without permission.
Since then, Butler has not appeared in a game and has been patiently waiting and open for a move - which has now arrived.
The trade comes off the back of two blockbuster trades that occurred within a 24-hour window on Sunday.
That move was decried by Mavericks fans, who staged a fake funeral outside the American Airlines Center in protest of giving up the 25-year-old Doncic, who was the face of the franchise and its future.
On Sunday evening, the San Antonio Spurs acquired guard De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal.
The NBA Trade Deadline closes at 3:00pm ET on Thursday afternoon.
