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Stephen Curry is hoping the Jimmy Butler drama is over following the former Miami Heat forward’s trade to the Golden State Warriors.
Butler waived his 2025-26 player option and signed a two-year extension as part of the multi-team trade that sent him to the Warriors, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst reported Wednesday night.
The trade news broke just before Curry and the Warriors played the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Curry said after the Warriors loss that he texted Butler at halftime, and that Butler sent him “a very pleasant message” in response.
“I understand there’s a lot of drama down there, and who really knows what the story is,” Curry said after the loss. “We expect to have a motivated, committed Jimmy that’s ready to impact our team for the better.”
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Steph Curry on Jimmy Butler: “I know there was a lot of drama down there (in Miami). Who really knows what the story is. We expect to have a motivated, committed Jimmy.”
Curry text Butler at halftime tonight to welcome him. Butler text a “pleasant” message back. pic.twitter.com/w9deX8Ohdg
When asked how the team could make the new addition a “drama-free situation,” Curry said Butler’s extension was an indication the discontented Heat star would fit it in with the Warriors.
“Him signing an extension is big, knowing he’s committed for this next little run, and we’ve got to figure it out,” Curry said.
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Steph Curry on the belief that the Warriors can integrate Jimmy Butler in a drama-free environment: “Him signing an extension is big, knowing he’s committed for this next little run.” pic.twitter.com/DkrcNB40Gm
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr meanwhile said processing trade news that involved the departures of Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and Dennis Schröder just before tip-off was difficult for both himself and his team.
“I think the league should consider making the trade deadline at the All-Star break, just so you don’t have to face these games where guys are getting traded half an hour before a game, and you’re trying to process the emotions and trying to win a game,” Kerr said. “I don’t know if it’s possible, but it would be great if we could move it back, or make the last couple of days before the deadline off days.”
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“These are tough days for sure.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr weighs in on the challenges of the NBA trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/QIglHi6dBT
Butler has played just five games since Dec. 20 amid a public split from the Heat that led to three separate suspensions by the team. But Curry expressed hope the Warriors could “feed off the energy of something new” once he returns to the court.
“It’ll look different than what we’re used to,” Curry said. “I mean, he can show a little bit of emotion, but he’s a shot creator, a finisher, someone who you have to take into account no matter where he is on the floor.”
Curry concluded: “I’m going to watch a lot of, whenever there’s time, I’ll watch a lot of Miami film to understand some of the sets they like to run for him, and see what we can transition to our playbook.”
The Warriors, who haven’t strung together three straight wins since November, currently sit just behind the Phoenix Suns for the Western Conference’s 10th seed.
The team was reportedly interested in acquiring Kevin Durant from the Suns before Durant told his team he didn’t want to come to Golden State, according to Charania and Windhorst. The Warriors will now hope the acquisition of Butler can help the team beat out Durant and the Suns for the final play-in spot in the West.
