Why There Is No Reason to Worry About Jimmy Butler’s Warriors Future

Most of the talk around forward Jimmy Butler this fall has been about his age, his knee and his expiring contract, but the people running the Golden State Warriors do not sound worried about any of it.

Butler just turned 37 and is still working his way back from the torn ACL in his right knee that he suffered against the Miami Heat on Jan. 19, so the questions about his future make sense.

According to ESPN's Anthony Slater, the Warriors had no interest in offering Butler for bigger names this summer because of the picks and contracts those deals would have required, and team sources said every other Butler-plus-picks talk was shut down because the front office sees those players as lesser options once he returns.

Slater also reported that general manager Mike Dunleavy still views Butler as an essential part of the next few years, while Butler has kept saying he wants to retire with the Warriors.

The return is still a ways off, as neither Butler nor guard Moses Moody, who is coming back from a torn left patellar tendon, has moved past individual court work.

The current belief is that Moody could be back in the December-to-January range and Butler in the January-to-February range, and that gives a clearer idea of when both players might return.

I think Dunleavy is making the right call, because the trade market is the worst place to judge Butler right now.

ESPN noted that the market views an injured Butler as a negative value on his expiring $56.8 million deal, so moving him today would mean selling him at his lowest point.

Last season backs up that patience, since before he got hurt the Warriors went 11-4 over a 15-game stretch while Butler averaged 21 points, five rebounds and five assists, per ESPN, and they went 12-26 after he went down, and I do not see how anyone looks at that gap and still wants to sell low on him.

Head coach Steve Kerr sees the timing as a chance to flip last season on its head, telling ESPN, "I'm almost looking at this like this could be the exact opposite of last season. We get Jimmy back around February instead of losing him in February."

Guard Stephen Curry has also committed to two more years with the team through 2028-29, so the core is still in place.

Butler becomes eligible for an extension on Feb. 6 before he hits free agency, and the Warriors can clear up to nearly $60 million in cap space next summer.

Butler said he does not pay attention to that side of things, because he sees his job as hooping and helping the team win while being the best leader he can for the young players.

Golden State wrapped up the preseason against Portland on Friday and opens the regular season on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Most people expect this team to land in the lottery, but with Moody working toward his own return target and Butler on track for early next year, I believe the Warriors can stay afloat until Butler is back on the floor.