Warriors Rumors: Jimmy Butler Trade Not a Priority, 'Much More Interested' in Centers

Don't expect the Golden State Warriors to enter themselves in the potential Jimmy Butler sweepstakes ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.

As ESPN's Marc Spears reported during Tuesday's NBA Today, acquiring a center is a bigger priority for the Dubs:

"I'm hearing that the Warriors literally want to go bigger than Jimmy Butler, and what I mean by that is they're one of the most undersized teams in the league. So they're trying to get a big guy to go alongside Draymond Green. People on their list include Nikola Vučević, who has probably been the top guy on that list. ... Keep an eye on some guys like Walker Kessler and John Collins with the Utah Jazz. Jonas Valančiūnas with the Washington Wizards. Jusuf Nurkić, I can't see him and Draymond playing together. Maybe a bigger wish is Myles Turner, who will be an unrestricted free agent. But the Warriors do not want to trade Jonathan Kuminga, do not want to trade Andrew Wiggins. ... Right now, the Warriors seem much more interested in adding a big to go alongside Green with this team than another shooting guard."

Butler, 35, would be a bit of a wonky fit with the Warriors even if the team didn't need more size. He's at his best as either a primary or secondary playmaker for a team, but the Dubs have that covered in Stephen Curry and Green, respectively.

He has improved as a three-point shooter later in his career, shooting 41.4 percent from deep in the 2023-24 campaign and 37.5 percent from three this season. For his career, however, he's hit only 33 percent of his shots from deep, and he has been less than a willing catch-and-shoot option on the perimeter at times.

As for the big-man options whom Spears outlined, the 34-year-old Vučević probably makes the most sense as a guaranteed double-double per night (20.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG this season) who can stretch the floor (42.4 percent from three) and would take some pressure off Curry offensively.

Collins is another intriguing option, though he's more of a stretch 4 than a center. He's averaging 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds this season while shooting a career-high 43.8 percent from beyond the arc.

One thing is clear—the Warriors need more star power behind Curry. After a 12-3 start to the season, the Dubs have floundered and now sit at 18-17. However, It may be hard to acquire a game-changer without giving up Kuminga. Upgrading at center may come at less of a premium while still addressing a need.