NBA
How long will Jimmy Butler stay in the Warriors? His contract situation, salary and extension explained
The Jimmy Butler saga finally comes to an end, and his arrival in The Bay comes with a new contract extension. Let’s take a look at the numbers.
After several weeks of drama in Miami, the Jimmy Butler saga comes to an end. The forward has been traded to Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors, who have been exploring all possible options in the market for a star since Luka Doncic’s blockbuster trade to the Lakers last weekend.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Warriors will send Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson, and a protected first-round pick to Miami.
One of the biggest concerns about Jimmy Butler’s situation was his contract, which was set to expire this summer. The All-Star forward had threatened not to re-sign with certain teams, but it looks like Butler is arriving in San Francisco with a contract extension already in place.
Jimmy Butler’s contract details with the Warriors
According to Charania, Butler has declined the player option in his previous contract with Miami, which would have paid him over $52 million. Instead, he has signed a two-year extension worth a total of $121 million, running through the 2026-27 season.
According to estimates from Spotrac, Butler will earn $54.1 million in the 2025-26 season, while that figure will rise to nearly $58.5 million in 2026-27. That’s a salary worthy of a megastar—one that Jimmy ‘Buckets’ will have to justify, as his performance in Miami over the past few months has been under scrutiny.
With this extension, the Warriors avoid what would have likely been a major headache this summer. Throughout this whole drama surrounding his exit from the Heat, multiple reports suggested that Butler had only a few preferred destinations. Phoenix seemed to be the frontrunner, and his camp allegedly pressured other teams by threatening that he wouldn’t re-sign.
In fact, according to a recent report from Brian Windhorst, Butler had informed the Warriors that he wouldn’t extend his contract if he were traded to Golden State, in an effort to deter the team from pursuing him.
Maybe it’s due to recent market developments, or perhaps because his path to Phoenix had become more complicated in the last few hours, but one thing is clear—he has changed his mind.
When will Jimmy Butler make his Warriors debut?
With his new contract in hand, Butler appears ready to join Steve Kerr’s squad. Right now, the Golden State Warriors are on a road trip. Their next game is against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday, the 6th.
It seems too soon to see him in a Warriors jersey. Although nothing is official, it’s likely that he will make his debut alongside Steph and Draymond on Saturday, the 8th, in Chicago, where the Warriors will face the Bulls. Here’s a look at the team’s upcoming schedule:
- 2/6 at Los Angeles Lakers
- 2/8 at Chicago Bulls
- 2/10 at Milwaukee Bucks
- 2/12 at Dallas Mavericks
If he does debut on Saturday, the 8th, it will be a significant night for recently traded players. Rumors suggest that Luka Doncic could make his Lakers debut that same day, while Anthony Davis might take the floor for the Mavericks. One way or another, it promises to be a night we won’t want to miss.
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