Spurs Could Rival Warriors in Jimmy Butler Trade Sweepstakes

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly interested in Jimmy Butler, who only has one season left on his contract before he accepts a $52 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season. With he and Pat Riley taking jabs at one another after their first-round exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics, the NBA's perfect marriage between Butler and the Miami Heat might be on the rocks.

The Warriors, desperate to add star power next to Stephen Curry, can trade what remains of their future for one more shot at a title. However, the San Antonio Spurs, with their promising young talent, a war chest of draft picks, and ample cap room can outbid the Warriors if they want to go all-in this season.

The Spurs are seemingly hell-bent on getting the most out of their defensive-minded young core of Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama. Adding a proven winner and motivator in Butler seems like the natural move, although his career 32.9 percent mark from deep and his injury history, combined with his age (34 years old) might give the Spurs pause.

However, if they can cash in some draft picks as well as Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, and Harrison Barnes, then their young core stays together and they could extend Butler into the start of Wembanyama's prime, giving them a long-term starting lineup of Castle, Vassell, Butler, Sochan, and Wembanyama.

Butler shot 41.4 percent from behind the arc last season, but his track record points to that being a fluke. With Vassell being the only proven shooter in that lineup, the offense might struggle to get things going, but the Spurs would have four players in the All-Defensive conversation year after year, so preventing points would be their calling card.

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If the Spurs can retain their 2025 first-round picks and avoid sending out any key young players in a deal, is it worth taking a chance on one of the most intense competitors in the NBA?