Warriors rumors: Why insiders believe loyalty to Jimmy Butler will be ‘tested’ this summer

After Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL injury, would the front office consider trading him over the summer? One of the many decisions the front office will have to make amid a critical offseason. With limited assets, expiring contracts, including the Warriors’ $27.7 million option for Draymond Green, and a free-agent head coach (Steve Kerr), who’s no longer under contract, Golden State has a lot going on.

Butler, rehabbing from his right ACL injury, has no timetable set for his return, which will diminish his trade value, per The Athletic’s Nick Friedell and Marcus Thompson II.

“The market for Butler won’t figure to sizzle, since he’ll be coming off an ACL injury. But he could have value as a huge expiring contract,” Friedell and Thompson II said. “When Butler was on the floor, the Warriors found success. They had won 12 of their last 16 games when he got injured.

“Kerr and Dunleavy remain optimistic that whenever he can return, he will provide the Warriors with a different look, one that plays well off Curry, and can help them succeed. It’s certainly a locker room that believes the end of the season would’ve looked much different if Butler never got hurt.”

Butler has expressed how happy he is to be a Warrior. The stalemate between him and the Miami Heat over his contract extension, which led to his trade to the Warriors in 2025, resulted in a new two-year, $110.9 million deal. However, when Jimmy returns to the floor, he could attempt to leverage his team for a new contract.

“Butler, who will be 37 in September, has stated that he has enjoyed his short time in the Warriors’ culture. They allow Butler to be himself and trust he will do the work behind the scenes,” Friedell and Thompson II added.

“But in his previous stops around the league, many of his blowups centered around money and contracts. In Butler’s mind, respect is displayed with a new deal.”

Butler’s future with the Warriors will be one of the many storylines surrounding the team next season.

Jimmy Butler’s update to Warriors fans amid ACL injury

Warriors forward Jimmy Butler updated fans with a smile amid his recovery from a torn right ACL injury. Butler is in good spirits.

“Feel like I just had surgery on my ACL five weeks ago,” Butler said. “All in all, I’m good. Happy.”

The Warriors will be one of the many teams NBA fans will be keeping tabs on amidst the offseason.

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