Former Golden State Warriors star Richard Jefferson has given his verdict on the team’s trade deadline activity.
The Golden State Warriors have made their move, having weighed up whether to make any move at all to try and rescue their season.
Stephen Curry wrestled with the Warriors going all-in, and various ideas were batted about. It’s clear something had to happen with the team struggling at 25-25 and team owner Joe Lacob said to be frustrated.
After trying to get a deal done for Kevin Durant, who was not keen to return to the Warriors, they ended up pulling off a move for Miami Heat headache Jimmy Butler.
The Jimmy Butler to Golden State move has had an anti-climatic reaction after weeks of build-up. And part of that is because of the mega Luka Doncic trade that stole his thunder.
Stephen A. Smith says he refuses to consider Butler to the Warriors as a mega-deal, arguing he would have been more exciting on the Phoenix Suns.
2016 Warriors star Richard Jefferson told ESPN he has a lukewarm view of Jimmy Butler’s move to the team.
He points out Butler’s limitations from a skill perspective, arguing former Warriors star Klay Thompson is more skilled.
Yet he also believes the former Heat star’s competitive nature will make up for that, and bring an extra layer of mental strength to the team.
Jeffersons said: “I think Jimmy didn’t get everything that he wanted but I think he got a lot of what he wanted. I look at all of the things that have transpired in Miami over the last couple of months. When I see Jimmy, I see a competitor. Is he as skilled as Kevin Durant, is he as skilled as Klay Thompson? No.
“But is he still in his prime, is he capable? Yes. Defensively, I hate to use this term with Jimmy but he is an adult in the room. He can play, he plays on both ends of the floor. he is an ultra competitor.
“I do know he’s led a team to two NBA finals and now he’s teamed up with Steph Curry and Draymond and the rest of the crew.”
The most dominant team in the NBA a decade ago, the Golden State Warriors are in their last chance saloon to win with Stephen Curry over the next couple of years.
They saw Klay Thompson depart to the Dallas Mavericks in the summer, ending an era, and there was talk whether Draymond Green could be traded away too.
This season has been a nightmare for the Warriors for their high standards despite a 12-3 start, and they risked not even making the Play-In tournament.
A move for Butler doesn’t add a specialist skill player like Klay Thompson was, but Butler could be an upgrade in terms of his hunger.
Butler has never won a championship, a twice-beaten finalist, and while the Warriors are outsiders in a now stacked Western Conference, they can now give it as good as they have got, with some added belief they are still fighting.
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
