The Phoenix Suns wanted to pair a third star with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, so Mat Ishbia traded for Bradley Beal in June 2023. That trio was labeled as 'Phoenix's Big 3,' but was never worthy of that label.
Ishbia and the Suns looked elsewhere to create a true Big 3, but couldn't get the player they wanted because of Beal. Phoenix wanted Jimmy Butler, and it seemed Butler wanted to be in Phoenix. However, Beal refused to waive his no-trade clause (the Heat didn't want his NTC, either), which resulted in the Warriors swooping in and trading for Butler.
Golden State went from potentially missing the Play-In Tournament altogether to beating Memphis in the tournament to secure the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. Guess who was the star of the show for the Warriors? Butler. He finished with 38 points (12-of-20), seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 40 minutes in the win over the Grizzlies.
Butler and Golden State advanced to the first round for a matchup with No. 2 Houston. The Warriors jumped out to a 3-1 series lead, but lost Games 5 and 6, leading to Game 7. Golden State cruised to a 103-89 win over Houston on Sunday, extending its season by advancing to the semifinals for a matchup against Minnesota.
Jimmy Butler and Warriors advance to second round of playoffs
It becomes more evident with each passing day that Butler is the player the Warriors didn't know (at first) they needed. He meshes perfectly with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Golden State was initially skeptical of acquiring Butler (and extending him), but it's a risk that has already paid off. The Warriors' series win over the Rockets solidified that.
Four months ago, it seemed like Golden State was inching closer and closer toward becoming irrelevant in a stacked Western Conference. Now, the Warriors are in a position to win a title in the next few years before Curry retires. It's all thanks to the Jimmy trade.
Meanwhile, Phoenix is stuck trying to figure out how to get rid of Beal. Ishbia doesn't want to admit it, but the Suns are nowhere close to being contenders, and part of the reason for that is having Beal's contract on the books. Offloading him would be a step in the right direction, but he'll have the final say.
Butler might not have fit as well in Phoenix as in San Francisco, but if he had ended up in the desert, maybe the Suns would be making noise in the playoffs. Oh, well.