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The Golden State Warriors’ approach to the trade deadline in the wake of Jimmy Butler’s season-ending torn ACL has reportedly been revealed.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Warriors are expected to explore the possibility of trading forward Jonathan Kuminga to the Miami Heat in exchange for Andrew Wiggins.
Per Stein, there is “no doubt” that Golden State will continue to explore trade opportunities involving Kuminga following his demand to be moved on Jan. 15.
As for Butler, Stein reported Friday that the six-time All-Star has received “strong assurances” from the Warriors that they want him back next season and has been told to “tune out any noise” about the team parting ways with him on the trade market.
Butler will carry a $56.8 million cap hit into next season, the second year of a two-year contract extension worth $121 million that he signed with Golden State in Feb. 2025.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy previously confirmed that he has no plans to trade Butler following his injury.
“I don’t envision that,” Dunleavy said, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “Now that you’ve brought it up, I’d say my vision for him is to give us a boost next year the same way he did last year when he arrived.”
“At his age, to have the year he’s had is impressive,” he added. “I think he’s got a style of game that can play for a long time with his skill, his physicality, his mind for the game. So I guess my vision for him is him returning at some point between now and this time next year.”
Kuminga still hasn’t experienced a change of scenery following his trade demand, although the Heat could be interested after they were reportedly a sign-and-trade candidate for him during his restricted free agency in the 2025 offseason.
Wiggins previously suited up for Golden State from 2020-25, playing a key role on the team’s 2021-22 squad that won the NBA Finals.
He’s averaged 15.9 points and 4.9 rebounds to go along with 1.2 steals per game this season, shooting 47.1 percent from the field and a career-high 39.8 percent from behind the arc.
Given Wiggins’ defensive acumen and improved three-point accuracy, it isn’t difficult to imagine him fitting in seamlessly alongside Stephen Curry once again.