The Miami Heat received Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, P.J. Tucker, and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round draft pick from the Golden State Warriors for Jimmy Butler.
The Miami Heat can finally move on from Jimmy Butler after a tumultuous season. Butler has been on the trade block since December, requesting a trade publicly after failing to agree on a contract extension over the summer. The Golden State Warriors ended the saga by swooping Butler up on the penultimate night of the 2025 trade deadline.
Despite Jimmy Butler having hurt his value with his trade antics, the return the Heat got was impressive.
They received former All-Star Andrew Wiggins, who’d be an instant starter as the team’s small forward. PJ Tucker has succeeded with the Heat before but is a $11.5 million expiring contract with potential rotational upside.
Kyle Anderson might get traded again after the Heat tried moving him to the Toronto Raptors already, but that guarantees more assets for Butler. With everything that went on, this is a solid return for the Heat.
Tim Bontemps broke down the trade on ESPN’s Hoop Collective podcast with Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon, declaring the return a win for the Heat.
“I think it’s a pretty great outcome for everybody. We said the whole time the Miami Heat won’t make a bad trade. They didn’t make a bad trade, they made I think a good to very good trade given the situation they were in.”
“Andrew Wiggins will slot right in as the starting small forward. Miami is playing rookie big Kel’El Ware next to Bam Adebayo.
“They’ve got Tyler Herro, who deservedly made his first All-Star Game this year, and they have Duncan Robinson in the backcourt. They had a glaring hole at small forward where Andrew Wiggins will fill right in. He’s a great shooter for them, and fits the way they want to play.”
“They also get a top-10 protected pick which is very likely to convey this year. They probably will also make the Playoffs, so for the position the Heat were in, it’s a real win for them.”
The Heat can’t be upset with what they received for Jimmy Butler mid-season. They might have gotten a bigger package in the summer if they shopped Jimmy, with teams like the New York Knicks reportedly interested. However, this is still a favorable outcome for the Heat as they’ve received win-now players.
Wiggins is averaging 17.6 points and 4.6 rebounds this season. He will be a crucial 3-and-D addition for the Heat as they hope to participate in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
The bigger talking point for everyone is what the Warriors will do now with Jimmy Butler on the roster. The team currently lacks depth with just 12 players on the roster after making this deal. However, the Warriors have about 8 hours left before the trade deadline slams shut to fine-tune their roster.
Jimmy Butler is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this season. His numbers are lower than his normal production because he was not playing to the best of his abilities for Miami this season.
He had moments where he showed how explosive he can be, and the Warriors are hoping that version of Butler joins their team.
He’s a high-IQ wing who can play almost every role on the court. He can be a primary on-ball playmaker, link-up passer, cutter, and can fulfill a multitude of offensive requirements. His only weakness would be spot-up shooting, but the presence of Stephen Curry could result in higher-quality looks for him.
Jimmy Butler is a real defensive menace on the perimeter. He could be more aggressive, especially as a POA defender, than Wiggins has been for the last few seasons. His anticipation and IQ allow him to guard multiple positions, a skill the Warriors will need.
This is a great trade for Golden State considering the player they added. However, it might not be enough to make a title run this season.
Warriors receive:
Heat receive:
- Andrew Wiggins
- Kyle Anderson
- P.J. Tucker
- 2025 first-round pick (protected, Warriors)
Jazz receive:
Pistons receive:
- Lindy Waters III
- Josh Richardson
