The Warriors We're Never True Contenders This Season, But They've Been Given a Lifeline

15 games into the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, the Golden State were one of the best teams in basketball sitting with a record of 12-3. Since then, the team has fall back down to earth as they sit 14-9 and look more like the squad many of us expected to see heading into the season.

With the departure of Klay Thompson over the summer, along with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green beginning to show a bit of their age, Golden State has relied upon their deep 12-man rotation to carry most of the load. While that has worked out for the most part, we are beginning to see the downside of having so many players feel like they have earned significant minutes. Players constantly coming in and out of the lineup makes it tough to find your best lineups or the one's you can trust the most.

The Warriors need to add someone who can improve their play on both ends of the court if they want to have a serious chance at winning a championship. Enter Jimmy Butler. With rumors beginning to come up about his future in Miami, Butler could give the Warriors the spark they need to become a serious contender for the championship again.

Golden State's All Star duo of Curry and Green are still great, but they obviously need more to compete in the difficult Western Conference with teams like the Thunder and Mavericks. While he doesn't have a championship on his resume, Butler has taken the Heat to the NBA Finals twice since 2020 and has a track record of exceeding expectations and has become known for his ability to win games when it matters most. Along with his ability to score and create plays, his defensive skills would be a huge asset to a team that has had trouble finding offensive consistency outside of Curry.

Curry wouldn't have to do everything since Butler could create shots for both himself and other people. Additionally, he is the type of competitor who can energize a group, providing Golden State with the ferocity they have been lacking in recent weeks.

In order to land Butler, the Warriors would have to make it worth the Heat's while. Golden State Would would be looking at parting with some young players such as Moses Moody or Jonathan Kuminga, as well as future draft picks. To be able to match the salaries, Andrew Wiggins would also likely be in this deal.

If I am the Warriors, I am doing everything in my power to land Butler. If they can pull it off, the Warriors would be immediately be better and more formidable come postseason time thanks to his two-way abilities, and experience in high-pressure situations. Although it's a bold decision, by adding Butler Golden State may still be in the running for another championship during the Curry era.