Warriors get risky, invite capricious Butler into their home

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Warriors get risky, invite capricious Butler into their home originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr’s face conveyed sheer exasperation. The Warriors coach could not conceal his displeasure, with only its source in question.

Was it because he’d seen the Warriors, only minutes earlier Wednesday night, blow an 11-point lead in the final three minutes to smack themselves with a 131-128 loss to the clearly rebuilding Utah Jazz?

Or was it because less than two hours before tipoff in Salt Lake City, he was told four of his players who had warmed up to face the Jazz were being traded for disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler?

And he had to gather the team and deliver the news to a shaken locker room.

“I think the league should consider making the trade deadline at the All-Star break,” Kerr told reporters at Delta Center. “So, you don’t have to face these games where guys are getting traded a half hour before the game and trying to process the emotions and trying to win a game.”

Kerr had to say goodbye to one his favorite players, Andrew Wiggins, who played huge role in Golden State’s 2022 NBA Finals triumph. The coach also had to send away Dennis Schröder, a Warrior for only seven weeks. Kyle Anderson and Lindy Waters III, both acquired last summer, also would be leaving. The Warriors were being remodeled.

And Butler, a terrific player when with a checkered past who has missed 30 percent of Miami’s games since 2021, would be at the center of the Golden State remodel.

The trade was a surprise to many around the NBA, and most found that I contacted were either puzzled or skeptical or unimpressed with the Warriors’ decision.

Moreover, there surely are some within Golden State’s circle who have mixed feelings. There had been considerable debate within the organization about the pros and cons of partnering with such capricious personality as Butler. And only a few days had passed since Butler expressed reluctance about hitching himself to the Warriors.

Both sides had a change of heart that culminated in the decision to indeed get married.

Butler not only overcame his initial hesitation to…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-risky-invite-capricious-butler-001829951.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-02-06 00:18:00

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