The Golden State Warriors have been so successful since the Jimmy Butler trade that it’s easy to forget the initial slate of rumors around the potential deal brought out more concern than excitement,

Before the Miami Heat finally made the move to trade Jimmy Butler, the six-time All-Star decided he wanted out because he felt his value wasn't being appreciated. Per Andscape's Marc J. Spears, Butler's desire to be dealt stemmed from a feeling that the Heat "were moving in a direction without him in mind and he wanted to be more valued" at this point in his career.

Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. delivered a blunt message to the team following the acquisition of Jimmy Butler III, emphasizing a win-now mentality as the team pushes toward the postseason.