It’s an interesting narrative of rebuilding. But who wants it more desperately? The Golden State Warriors or Jimmy Butler? As the days pass, the rift between Pat Riley and his star player has only grown deeper and garnered more attention from the world. So, it comes as no surprise that now the Miami Heat have shown interest in discussing trades involving Butler. But who’s keeping the keenest eye on the situation? The Warriors. As this drama evolves, new pieces are being added to the puzzle. For instance: Jonathan Kuminga.

The Miami Heat recently suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games due to “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.” In simple terms, Pat Riley and his front office sidelined the 6x All-Star forward for his open desire to leave the team. Moreover, reports suggest the Heat are eyeing Jonathan Kuminga in any potential trade with the Golden State Warriors for Butler. The burning question now is: Are Joe Lacob and the Warriors in a position to bring in the 35-year-old, who holds a $50.3 million player option for 2025-26?

The straightforward answer to this question is: No. To acquire Butler, according to NY Times reports: “Either Andrew Wiggins, at $26.2 million, or Draymond Green, at $24.1 million, would have to be part of the deal to match salaries, along with a handful of other role players.”

The Warriors face a dilemma, and Andrew Wiggins is at the heart of it. His resurgence as a reliable perimeter defender and 40% 3-point shooter makes him invaluable. Teammates trust him and coaches rely on him, too. In a win-now mode, the Warriors hesitate to lose their glue guy. They’d rather explore trades that keep Wiggins alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. The message is clear: some pieces are too crucial to gamble with.

Moreover, Jimmy Butler’s hefty contract demands and age make the Warriors hesitant. They’re not biting on pricey, long-term risks, especially ones Miami rejected. Instead, they’re eyeing mid-tier deals, valuing flexibility over flash. It’s why they swapped De’Anthony Melton for Dennis Schroder’s expiring $13 million deal—a calculated move in a market where every dollar counts.

Jimmy Butler’s seven-game suspension is adding to the drama in Miami

Things went from “We are NOT trading Jimmy” to “We’re suspending him” in a flick of time. Well, that’s how dramatic and fast-paced the NBA can be. But where did this sudden turn of events root rise from? Let’s rewind. Just a day ago, Jimmy Butler sent shockwaves through the NBA while speaking to the media. He clearly hinted that he wanted to be traded from the Miami Heat.

“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said after the Heat’s 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers. “I am happy here, off the court. But I want to be back to somewhat dominant. I want to hoop and help this team win and right now I am not doing that.” Associated Press NBA writer Tim Reynolds followed up by asking if he could find that joy again in Miami. “Probably not,” Jimmy Butler responded with a moment’s hesitation.

Well, this level of honesty didn’t sit well with Pat Riley & team. Thus, the saga escalated tenfold when the Heat front office declared they were suspending Jimmy for seven games for his detrimental conduct towards the team. This brings us back to square one. Now, the trade talks are back on the table and quite open for the world, might we add? The Miami Heat are now willing to consider trade options for their star player, who is just not happy with them anymore.

For now, the Golden State Warriors are looking into other options (probably). Bringing in Jimmy Butler would be a major blow to their salary cap as they’re already over the second apron and any impulsive move could end up in monetary dilemma. Besides, will the team be willing to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Miami, now when he’s finding his rhythm and scoring for the team? Moreover, will the Dubs be up for trading Draymond Green or Andrew Wiggins?

Too many questions with hardly any answers for now. We’ve just got to wait to see what happens next.