Jimmy Butler, then of the Miami Heat, smiles and looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on April 04, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.
Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Many have been dubious of the Golden State Warriors’ decision to acquire Jimmy Butler in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Heat, especially in light of the $121 million extension the team granted Butler.
But don’t count “The Podfather” among the skeptics: Bill Simmons, the prominent sports podcaster and founder of The Ringer, didn’t just like the move for the Warriors. He thought Golden State fleeced Miami. Speaking on a live episode of his eponymous podcast on Thursday, Simmons couldn’t stop heaping praise on the Warriors’ front office.
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“I’ve said this before and I feel really strongly about it. I actually thought that was a great trade for Golden State,” Simmons said. “I don’t think they gave up really anything. I know they loved Andrew Wiggins, but just fundamentally, it was an NBA 2K trade where you’re just cheating the system and you’re basically just turning Wiggins into Butler.”
Simmons later added, “If you’re a Miami fan, you gotta be like, ‘What the f–k just happened?’”
Simmons and guests Wosny Lambre and Rob Mahoney were all particularly impressed by the Warriors’ ability to pull off the deal while holding onto Jonathan Kuminga — widely seen as the team’s most valuable trade chip. The podcasters applauded the Warriors brass for their win-now mentality, given Steph Curry is approaching the twilight of his career.
Curry “is at a different point of his career. He can still hit the heights, but he can’t do it nearly as consistently,” said Simmons, who admitted the trade is likely to cost the team down the road.
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“I think two years from now it could be a catastrophe for them. Where they’re just like, ‘Oh my god, we have Draymond and this guy?’” Simmons added. “But short term, with Curry’s window, you gotta do it.”
Simmons said he likes the chances of the new-look Warriors making the playoffs, especially against the odds of another team that dominated trade deadline conversations. “I gotta be honest, I would bet on Golden State to make the playoffs over Dallas,” Simmons said.
Feb 6, 2025
