The Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat trade saga felt like it would never end a couple of months ago. His relationship with the Heat deteriorated to the point where many believed a team wouldn't be willing to trade for him (Bradley Beal's no-trade clause held the Suns back).
Failed Kevin Durant trade talks between the Suns and Warriors led to Golden State swooping in and trading for Butler. The Warriors immediately signed him to a two-year extension worth $110 million, proving their commitment to the 35-year-old.
It didn't take long for Butler to make Golden State's front office look genius for the trade. He made his Warriors debut on Feb. 8, over two weeks after playing his last game for Miami. Butler finished with 25 points (7-of-12), four assists, two rebounds, one block, and one steal in Golden State's 132-111 win over Chicago.
The Warriors are 15-2 in games Butler has played, going from the 10th spot in the West to the sixth. It's rare for a midseason trade to play out as well as the Butler deal has. It's still early, but with each passing game, it looks more and more like Butler was the star Golden State desperately needed to pair alongside Steph Curry.
Are Heat fans surprised? No. The drama was exhausting, but there's no denying who Jimmy Butler is. He's one of the most underrated stars in the league, and nothing proves that more than his two NBA Finals runs in Miami.
Butler has elevated the Warriors to a different level after Heat trade
Butler told Andscape's Marc J. Spears that he felt Miami was moving in a direction without him. He didn't feel valued, so he requested a trade. Golden State has given Butler what he was no longer getting in South Florida, and he's found his joy in playing basketball again.
It looked like the Warriors wouldn't come close to winning a title with Curry again, even though the 37-year-old is still playing at a high level. Butler has changed that. He knows what it takes to win, and as Miami fans know, he comes alive in the playoffs. Golden State isn't a team you want to run into during the postseason.
Butler is still in search of his first NBA title. He came close to reaching that mountaintop with the Heat, but those teams didn't have the power to make that final push. The Warriors do have that, though.
Heat fans wouldn't be surprised if Butler and the Warriors make a deep playoff run, maybe even going as far as the NBA Finals. That doesn't mean it wouldn't be tough to watch, especially given the current state of Miami's organization, but that's the kind of player Jimmy is.