SAN FRANCISCO — It is possible that, in one instant, the greatest era of basketball in Golden State Warriors collapsed, right along with Jimmy Butler’s right knee.
Scans confirmed the worst on Tuesday, what was evident as Butler wailed in pain beneath the Chase Center basket on Monday night: A tear in his anterior cruciate ligament, ending his season and, in all likelihood, the Warriors’ hopes of adding a fifth championship with Stephen Curry.
The Warriors’ top brass, however, don’t believe so.
“I think we’re well-equipped with our depth to continue to play at a high level,” coach Steve Kerr said, citing the additions of De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford as the difference from the team that was 25-27 before Butler arrived last February. “At this stage last year, before we traded for Jimmy, it didn’t feel like we had enough to really compete. I think we have enough to compete. … We can keep this thing going.”
Golden State went 23-7 with Butler in the lineup down the stretch last season. After an up-and-down start to this season, the Warriors appeared to unlock something similar with Butler leading the second unit. They were 12-4 in their past 16 games, including a 135-112 win Monday after Butler exited in the third quarter.
Their recent play elevated them out of the play-in and within 3½ games of the No. 4 seed. They were rumored to exploring ways to supplement their roster ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline. General manager Mike Dunleavy said it was “tough to say” how Butler’s injury would impact that position.
“Our team’s in a different spot today than it was this time yesterday, so it will in some way,” Dunleavy said while adding that the goal was still to play meaningful basketball at least the next two seasons, when Curry and Butler’s current contracts expire. “Maybe the goal posts have moved a little bit, but we believe in making good, sound decisions. … I don’t think there’s an argument to make that we’re a better team with Jimmy Butler, but I think this group is capable.”
The estimated recovery from ACL surgery is 10-12 months, and Butler is under contract for $54.1 million this season and $56.8 million in 2026-27. Dunleavy said he didn’t “envision” unloading Butler and his contract like the Warriors did with Melton early last season. “I guess what I’d say what I envision for him is kind of giv(ing) us a boost next year the same way he did last year when he arrived.”
Central to any trade discussions has been Jonathan Kuminga, who hasn’t played since a brief stint on Dec. 18 and whose $22.5 million salary could help offset the incoming salary in a potential trade. However, now without Butler, the Warriors could have a use for the former lottery pick, who had begun to emerge before the trade for Butler and averaged 23.4 points per game when Curry was injured in last year’s postseason.
Dunleavy said he was “aware” of Kuminga’s recent demand for a trade, but he said, “when you make a demand, there has to be demand in the market.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania recently described the relationship between Kerr and Kuminga as “fractured beyond repair,” but the coach maintained that the 23-year-old “could be” an option in Butler’s absence. He was asked if he believed Kuminga still desired to play for Golden State.
“Yeah, I do,” Kerr said. “Obviously he hasn’t played in a while, but at this point we have to experiment a little with rotations and see where we are. He’s definitely a part of that conversation.”
Butler, 36, was averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists. The biggest number the Warriors will miss, though, will be his 7.6 free throw attempts per game. Kerr was doubtful that the Warriors could make up “more than a couple” of those.
“We’re not going to get to the foul line nearly as often, and that’s a big loss,” Kerr said. “Given that we’re going to miss a lot of trips to to he line, we’ve got to make sure that we’re pushing the ball in transition. We’ve got to get some easy buckets off of our defense.”
With his ability to drive to the basket and either draw a foul or find an open shooter, Butler gave the Warriors a weapon unlike one they ever had. It was an instant fit alongside Curry, but only recently had they begun to win the crucial minutes with Curry off the floor, too.
Related Articles
One bad Jimmy Butler step has thrown everything into question for the Warriors Jimmy Butler tears ACL in Warriors’ win over Heat What’s behind the Warriors’ historic 3-point shooting tear? Steph Curry joins Magic, Bird, Jordan with latest All-Star selection Warriors center Jackson-Davis gives his biased take on the CFP national title gameThe non-Curry — and, now, non-Butler — minutes are “probably the biggest thing that we have to adapt to now,” Kerr said.
For the time being, at least, the responsibility to carry those minutes will fall on Melton and Brandin Podziemski. Kerr named Horford, Quinten Post, Will Richard and Buddy Hield as potential shooters to surround the two ballhandlers.
“We’ll want shooters on the floor around Melt and BP, for sure,” Kerr said. “Just to open things up and make sure we can score.”
Kerr had not had a chance to address the team since the news of Butler’s MRI. Dunleavy, a former teammate of Butler’s who pushed for the trade last February, called it a “tough 24 hours” for the organization, “most especially for Jimmy.” He spoke with Butler and relayed that he was in “good spirits.”
That much was evident for any of Butler’s 10 million followers on Instagram, who were greeted to a new post Tuesday morning. The image was Butler’s head on a figure outfitted in military garb beneath the text, “General Soreness.” Butler added the caption: “last night 44/82 be back before you know it.”
Hence then, the article about what s next for golden state warriors after jimmy butler tore his acl was published today ( ) and is available on mercury news ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( What’s next for Golden State Warriors after Jimmy Butler tore his ACL? )
Also on site :
- Karamo Brown Skips 'Queer Eye' Interviews and Says He Felt 'Mentally and Emotionally Abused' for Years
- ABC Explains 'General 'Hospital' Preemption, Sets New Airdate
- Beloved ‘Beaches’ Star Barbara Hershey, 77, Is a Gray-Haired Beauty on the Red Carpet in Rare Appearance