Warriors Had 'Concerns' About Jimmy Butler Before Trade with Heat, Says Joe Lacob
Golden State Warriors team governor Joe Lacob was well aware of Jimmy Butler's reputation before the team acquired the six-time All-Star ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
"Yeah, there were (concerns about Butler)," Lacob said to The Athletic's Sam Amick. "But you do your analysis, you make your choices, and, yeah, it was a little bit of a risk. But we've got to take risks in this life. And he's worth every freaking penny. That's all I can say. He's fantastic."
It would've been impossible for Lacob, given how involved he is with the Warriors, not to know of the drama surrounding Butler and the Miami Heat and how it fit into a wider pattern. When things turn sour with the veteran forward, things can escalate quickly.
As Lacob said, Butler has validated why Golden State set all of that aside when it not only traded for him but also gave him a two-year, $111 million extension. For now, the bet is paying off handsomely.
The Warriors outlasted the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, and Butler played an instrumental role in the series. He averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
In the winner-take-all Game 7, the 35-year-old played 45 minutes and filled out the stat sheet with 20 points, eight boards and seven assists.
Fewer teams are feeling more urgency than the Warriors, who desperately want to win one more title with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the roster. Their window isn't open forever with those two in their mid-30s.
Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. weren't focused on what might happen with Butler a year or two down the road. They're living in the moment and watching him serve exactly the purpose they intended.
