For months, everyone thought Jimmy Butler would end up with the Phoenix Suns, his preferred destination, but it turned out to be easier said than done. Bradley Beal's no-trade clause was a significant factor in the Suns not getting another star to pair alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Phoenix engaged in trade talks with Golden State about Durant before the Warriors dealt for Butler. A deal going through would've kept Butler away from the Bay Area, so it's a blessing in disguise for Golden State that Durant didn't want to be traded midseason.
It put the Suns between a rock and a hard place, with KD being surprised about being in trade discussions, and their season officially going down the drain. Phoenix is fighting for a spot in the Play-In Tournament, while Golden State went from a Play-In team to a contender because of the Butler trade.
The Warriors revived their season the way the Suns wanted to do, and all Phoenix can do is sit back and watch it unfold. The front office put itself in this position with the highest payroll in the league and nothing to show for it but disappointment.
Butler is elevating the Warriors while the Suns' struggles continue
Golden State was the 10th team in the West when the trade happened on Feb. 5, and has since risen to No. 6. The Warriors are neck-in-neck with the Timberwolves to secure a playoff berth without going through the Play-In, which is a position nobody thought they'd be in on Feb. 4.
They're 12-1 in games Butler has played. He's averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He's the No. 2 scorer the Warriors desperately needed to pair alongside Steph Curry, who is averaging a whopping 29.9 points per game since the trade.
Everyone knows the real games begin for Butler in the playoffs. He led Miami to two NBA Finals in his six seasons there. Golden State isn't a team you want to face in the postseason, between its championship experience and top two scoring options in Curry and Butler.
It's easy for Suns fans to think about what might've been, but it seems like the Warriors were by far the best fit for Butler, even though he initially wanted to go to Phoenix. There's no guarantee he'd have the same success with the Suns as in San Francisco, but that doesn't make their situation look any better.