“Jimmy Butler is not Klay Thompson caliber” – Warriors’ $121 million star brings no chance to Stephen Curry claims NBA analyst
Stephen A. Smith was unimpressed by the Warriors trading for Jimmy Butler to pair with Stephen Curry, levelling Klay Thompson comparisons.
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Stephen A. Smith is not impressed by the Jimmy Butler pairing with Stephen Curry
The Golden State Warriors’ acquisition of Jimmy Butler has become one of the more significant moves in a trade deadline period that has seen some wild trades. Although much of the spotlight has been on the seismic trades across the league, the Warriors pairing Jimmy Butler with Stephen Curry is one of the biggest needle movers so far. However, Stephen A. Smith does not believe in this sentiment.
ESPN’s star analyst was particularly vocal about the trade, which saw Andrew Wiggins and other pieces from the Warriors head towards the Miami Heat and other teams. He dismissed the notion that it dramatically improves the Warriors’ championship hopes. Speaking on First Take, Smith explained why he doesn’t view Jimmy Butler’s arrival as a game-changing move for Golden State.
What we’re not going to do today is call this a mega-deal… We’re accustomed to seeing Steph Curry with Klay Thompson. Jimmy Butler’s not a Klay Thompson caliber player, type of player rather. He’s big-time. He’s Playoff Jimmy. He will produce. His numbers go up every series in the playoffs, no doubt about that… I’m just saying in terms of this system, who he’s playing with, the personnel surrounding Jimmy. No, this is not a mega-deal.
Smith said on First Take
.@stephenasmith believes the Warriors are "no more dangerous than they were yesterday" after the Jimmy Butler trade 😅 pic.twitter.com/FNgDiR7CXn
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 6, 2025
That isn’t entirely why Stephen A. Smith is not a fan of the Butler to Golden State move. He also pointed out that the trade had financial motivations for Golden State, which may have played an important role. Smith noted that the trade for Butler saved the team approximately $19.3 million in luxury tax penalties.
Given that the Warriors were already hard-capped due to the second apron, moving on from the contracts of Andrew Wiggins and Dennis Schroder may be helpful. It allows the Dubs some flexibility before the trade deadline, especially with Jimmy Butler’s 2-year $121 million extension set to kick in next season.
Stephen Curry opens up on fit with Jimmy Butler
Despite skepticism from analysts like Stephen A. Smith, Stephen Curry remains optimistic about Jimmy Butler’s arrival in Golden State. Speaking to reporters after the Warriors’ disappointing loss to the Utah Jazz, Curry emphasized Butler’s ability to impact games in multiple ways. Even if his non-shooting-oriented playstyle differs from that of the traditional Warriors system, Butler is a major asset on the court.
It’ll look different than what we’re used to. He’s a shot creator, a finisher, somebody that you have to take into account no matter where he is on the floor. He plays at his own speed, he can get to the foul line, take advantage of matchups… He’s obviously a competitor at the highest of levels.
Stephen Curry on the Jimmy Butler trade
Steph Curry on Jimmy Butler: “I know there was a lot of drama down there (in Miami). Who really knows what the story is. We expect to have a motivated, committed Jimmy.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 6, 2025
Curry text Butler at halftime tonight to welcome him. Butler text a “pleasant” message back. pic.twitter.com/w9deX8Ohdg
While Curry is mostly optimistic about the fit of Butler with the Warriors, his non-traditional playstyle is something that Smith was driving towards in his comparison of Butler and Klay Thompson. Unlike Thompson, who was a pure shooter and floor-spacer, Butler thrives in isolation, mid-range scoring, and physicality.
Integrating him into Golden State’s motion-heavy system will require adjustments from both Butler and the Warriors’ coaching staff. The addition of Butler gives the Warriors a new dynamic, although it doesn’t guarantee them immediate success. The Dubs currently sit in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 25-25 record and will need all that Jimmy Butler can offer if they intend to remain a competitive and potentially championship-gated team in the NBA.
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Armaan Gupta
(400 Articles Published)