The Golden State Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat in February and that trade saved their season.
On February 6, the day they acquired Butler, the franchise lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, dropping its record to 25-26.
The Warriors went on a significant run after Butler made his Dubs debut, going 23-7. Golden State finished the season as the seventh seed in the Western Conference and played the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 postseason.
Behind Butler and two-time MVP Steph Curry, the Warriors beat the Rockets in seven games.
However, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Golden State in the second round in five games. Curry suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Game 1 and missed the rest of the series.
Many fans and pundits believe Curry and Butler need another dynamic player next to them to compete for the championship next season, which is why Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report urged the Warriors to trade for New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III this offseason.
"If the Warriors are going to address their lack of athleticism, deep shooting and secondary playmaking on the wing, they'll likely do it by adding multiple players," Hughes wrote. "If there's a single guy who can provide all that, he's usually making close to the max. Murphy is the exception."
Murphy III played in 53 games for the Pelicans this season. He averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field, 36.1% from 3 and 88.7% from the free-throw line.
New Orleans signed Murphy III to a four-year, $112 million contract in 2024. The swingman will make $25 million next season.
Murphy III turns 25 on June 18. He has career averages of 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
