Jimmy Butler’s tense showdown with the Miami Heat has finally come to an end. His bold strategy paid off, resulting in a contract extension and a fresh new chapter with Stephen Curry. After a lengthy standoff, Butler’s aggressive approach worked out, and now he’s joining forces with Curry. Right after the trade, he signed a massive two-year, $121 million extension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. That’s a big commitment from both Butler and the Warriors—looks like they’re all in for the next chapter.
But the question is for how long?
In August 2024, Curry surprised everyone when he signed a one-year, $62.6 million extension with the Warriors. At first glance, it seemed like the beginning of a longer deal, but this extension only keeps him in Golden State through the 2026-27 season. That’s huge, but it also means Steph’s contract will end just a year before he hits 39. Even Draymond Green’s contract with Golden State is till the 26-27 season only.
Bringing Butler into the fold is a bold move, and it’s clear the Warriors know their championship window is rapidly closing. You can feel the urgency in the air. By locking the 6x All-Star into a two-year deal, the Warriors are setting themselves up for a final push while Curry enters his twilight years.
Honestly, it’s hard not to see this as a message—Golden State is all-in on getting one last title run with the greatest shooter the league has ever seen. You could say this is Curry’s “Last Dance” season. With all the big moves happening, the clock is ticking, and you’ve got to wonder—what’s next for Curry after 2027?
Retirement? Probably.
Steve Kerr, along with Steph, didn’t want the front office to make any desperate moves, but it looks like after Zach LaVine was off the market, Golden State had run out of options.
Mike Dunleavy doesn’t pay heed to Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr’s concerns
A week ago, The Athletic‘s Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson revealed that the Warriors were reconsidering a trade for Jimmy Butler. They’d previously backed off due to concerns about his fit on the team, especially after hearing reports that Curry and coach Steve Kerr were hesitant.
Kevin O’Connor from Yahoo! Sports dropped this bomb: “Stephen Curry, specifically, has concerns about Jimmy Butler’s fit in the locker room,” and Kerr shares those worries, too. Seems like that personality clash was holding things up.
Now, it’s easy to see why. Butler’s got a track record—he’s pushed his way out of three teams, with each exit more dramatic than the last. Miami was no different, ending with months of trade talk and suspensions for missing flights and clashing with teammates. Not exactly the best track record for team chemistry.
Adding to the drama, the Warriors tried to make a move for Kevin Durant, teaming up with the Phoenix Suns and the Heat. They were close, but Durant wasn’t interested in rejoining the Warriors. So with the trade deadline closing in and no better options, the Warriors bit the bullet and made the deal with Butler.
Now that Butler’s in Golden State, we’ll see how this all shakes out. The Warriors are betting everything on one last run with Curry, even if it means taking on some serious locker-room risks.