Sources: Butler traded to Warriors, extends deal

The Jimmy Butler saga with the Miami Heat ended Wednesday night when he was traded to the Golden State Warriors as part of a multi-team megatrade, sources told ESPN.

The Warriors closed the deal for Butler after negotiations to acquire Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant ended when he informed the team he did not want to return to Golden State, sources said. The Warriors, Heat and Suns had been nearing an agreement on a trade that would've landed Butler in Phoenix and Durant back where he won championships in 2017 and '18.

As part of the agreement, Butler will decline his $52 million player option for next season and plans to sign a new two-year, $121 million deal that carries through the 2026-27 season, sources said.

The Warriors will send forwards Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson, plus a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick, to the Heat. Also, guard Dennis Schroder, acquired by the Warriors in December, will be sent to the Jazz. Utah will ship forward P.J. Tucker, who played with the Heat in 2021-22, to Miami. Guard Lindy Waters III will go from Golden State to the Detroit Pistons and Josh Richardson will go from Miami to Detroit.

There were a number of other parameters in the deal the teams were still ironing out Wednesday night.

The trade was agreed to while the Heat were playing a game against the 76ers in Philadelphia and the Pistons were hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Warriors coach Steve Kerr called a team meeting to inform players just before they played against the Jazz in Utah.

The blockbuster deal concludes a drawn-out divorce between Butler and the Heat.

Miami suspended him three times this season, twice for conduct detrimental to the team and once after he missed a team flight. His most recent suspension began on Jan. 27 after he left shootaround following news that he would be coming off the bench for Miami's next game. The Heat announced that the indefinite suspension would last at least five games, which took things up to Thursday's deadline.

Butler hasn't played since Jan. 21.

The contentious parting seemed telegraphed last offseason when team president Pat Riley said the Heat did not plan to extend the six-time All-Star this season. Butler has a history of messy exits after previously forcing his way out of both Chicago and Minnesota.

The Heat had called into question the 35-year-old's effort at times this season. Butler's 17.0 points per game is the lowest of his career since his third season in the league.

His marriage with Miami seemed a perfect pairing as Butler's strong-willed attitude fit well with the franchise's "Heat Culture" ethos. Over six seasons in South Beach, Butler led the Heat to the playoffs in each of his first five seasons with three trips to the Eastern Conference finals and two NBA Finals appearances. Butler was named to two All-Star teams and made three appearances on All-NBA teams as a member of the Heat.

With news of the trade, the Warriors' odds to win the NBA championship shortened from +4000 to +3300, per ESPN BET. They moved from +3000 to +2000 for the Western Conference title and from +1800 to +1200 for the Pacific Division.

Golden State entered Wednesday at 25-24 overall and in 10th place in the West.