The Golden State Warriors are entering the 2026 NBA offseason with the most pressure on them compared to recent seasons.
As long as Steph Curry is still playing at an elite level, Golden State has an obligation to chase another championship. But that does not mean the Warriors can keep doubling down on an aging, expensive roster with limited athleticism and very little long-term flexibility.
That is what makes a potential Jimmy Butler trade this offseason possible. Butler still brings toughness, shot creation, playoff experience, and the kind of edge every contender wants, but he also represents the exact roster-building problem Golden State has to solve.
The Warriors need to get younger, deeper, and more explosive without completely stepping away from their win-now mindset. Moving Butler would be a bold way to accomplish that. One team that they could end up trading him to is the Phoenix Suns.
Let’s break down why this trade makes sense for both sides, what the package would look like, and whether the Warriors should pull the trigger.
The Proposed Trade: What the Warriors Would Send and Receive
Let’s start with the specifics.
Phoenix Suns receive:
Jimmy Butler
Golden State Warriors receive:
Jalen Green
Dillon Brooks
Future second-round pick or protected first-round compensation
This is not a blockbuster in terms of star power returning to Golden State. Jalen Green is not Jimmy Butler – not yet, anyway. But Green is 24 years old. He’s explosive. He’s athletic. He can create his own shot. He’s exactly the kind of player the Warriors need to inject youth and energy into their aging core.
Dillon Brooks is a physical, defensive-minded wing who can take tough perimeter assignments. He’s not a star, but he’s a rotation player who would fit Golden State’s competitive identity.
The Warriors would be trading one expensive veteran for two rotation-level starters who are younger and more durable.
Why the Warriors Would Trade Jimmy Butler
Let’s talk about Golden State’s motivation.
Trading Butler would not necessarily be a sign that the Warriors are punting on Curry’s final years. It could actually be the opposite.
Golden State needs more athleticism, more shot creation, and more regular-season durability. Butler is still a winning player when healthy, but relying on an aging core of Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green creates very little margin for error. The Warriors’ 2025-26 season exposed that. They were injury-hit, inconsistent, and too dependent on veterans being available and sharp every night.
Jalen Green would give Golden State a younger, explosive scorer who can attack the rim, create in transition, and take pressure off Curry. He is not the same playoff force Butler is, but he gives the Warriors something they badly need: a younger offensive engine who can absorb usage across an 82-game season.
Dillon Brooks would also make sense as a Warriors target. He is a physical wing defender, can take tough perimeter assignments, and would fit the kind of competitive identity Golden State has always valued. Brooks is not a star, but his toughness and defensive edge would help replace some of what Butler brings on that end.
This trade would give Golden State two rotation-level starters instead of one expensive veteran. For a team trying to stay competitive while also getting younger, that matters.
Why the Suns Would Trade for Jimmy Butler
Let’s flip the script.
For Phoenix, this would be about chasing a higher ceiling around Devin Booker. A Booker-Butler duo would give Phoenix two elite half-court shot creators, two players who can get to the free-throw line, and two stars comfortable in late-game possessions.
Butler would not need to be the regular-season engine every night. Booker could carry the scoring load, while Butler could be preserved for the moments Phoenix has lacked in recent playoff runs.
The Suns have had star power in recent years, but they have not always had the defensive toughness and emotional edge needed to survive deep playoff series. Butler brings that identity immediately. He is not just a scorer. He changes the personality of a team.
How Jimmy Butler Fits With Devin Booker
Let’s talk about the fit.
Booker is at his best when he has another player who can punish defenses for loading up on him. Butler would force teams to defend Phoenix differently. He can post smaller guards, attack mismatches, draw fouls, and create for shooters when help comes. That would take pressure off Booker late in games and allow him to operate off the ball more often.
Butler would also raise Phoenix’s physicality. The Suns have not always had the toughness needed to survive deep playoff runs. Butler changes that immediately.
The concern is spacing. Butler is not a high-volume three-point shooter, so Phoenix would need to structure lineups carefully around Booker and Butler. The Suns would need shooting at the other three spots, especially at point guard and center, to keep the floor open. If they fail to do that, the offense could become too crowded.
The Jalen Green Factor: A Young Star on the Rise
Let’s talk about the centerpiece of the return for Golden State.
Jalen Green was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He’s been in the league for five years. He’s averaged over 20 points per game in three of those seasons. He’s explosive, athletic, and capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor.
He’s also inconsistent. He’s not a lockdown defender. He’s not a playmaker. He’s a scorer – a talented, young scorer.
In Golden State, Green would have the best structure of his career. He would play alongside Stephen Curry, who would space the floor and draw defensive attention. He would learn from Steve Kerr, one of the best coaches in NBA history. He would have the opportunity to develop into a more complete player.
The Warriors would be betting on Green’s potential. It’s a risk. But it’s a risk worth taking for a team that needs to get younger.
The Dillon Brooks Addition: Toughness and Defense
Let’s not forget about Dillon Brooks.
Brooks is one of the most hated players in the NBA. He’s physical. He’s annoying. He gets under opponents’ skin. And he can defend.
The Warriors have always valued toughness. Draymond Green is the emotional engine. Brooks would fit right in.
Brooks is not a star. He averaged 12 points per game last season. He’s a career 34% three-point shooter. But he’s a rotation player who can guard multiple positions and bring an edge that the Warriors need.
The Salary Cap Implications: Flexibility for the Future
Let’s talk about the money.
Jimmy Butler is owed $56.8 million next season. He’s 37. He’s coming off a torn ACL.
Jalen Green is owed roughly 25millionnextseason.DillonBrooksisowedroughly25millionnextseason.DillonBrooksisowedroughly10 million.
The Warriors would be saving roughly $20 million in salary next season. That’s significant. It would give them more flexibility to add depth, re-sign their own free agents, or avoid the dreaded second apron.
The Suns, meanwhile, would be taking on Butler’s massive contract. They would be betting that a healthy Butler can push them over the top. It’s a gamble, but it’s a gamble worth taking for a team that has underachieved in recent playoffs.
The Risk: What If Butler Gets Hurt Again?
Let’s be honest.
Butler is 37. He tore his ACL in January. He might not be the same player when he returns. The Suns would be taking on significant risk.
But the Suns have been stuck in mediocrity. They’ve had star power – Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal – but they haven’t been able to make a deep playoff run. They need to change something.
Butler is a proven playoff riser. He’s been to the Finals twice. He’s a different player in the postseason. If the Suns believe that a healthy Butler can help them compete, the risk is worth it.
The Kerr-Dunleavy Dynamic: What We Know
Let’s go back to the Warriors’ front office.
Mike Dunleavy and Steve Kerr have been transparent about their offseason plans. They’ve said the 11th pick is valuable. They’ve said they’re committed to developing young players. They’ve hinted that they might not trade for Giannis.
Trading Butler for Green and Brooks fits that philosophy. It’s a win-now move that also looks toward the future. The Warriors get younger, more athletic, and deeper. They also get off Butler’s massive contract.
It’s not a rebuild. It’s a retool.
The Golden State Warriors have a Jimmy Butler problem. He’s 37. He’s coming off a torn ACL. He’s owed $56.8 million. He doesn’t fit the timeline of a team that needs to get younger.
Trading Butler to the Phoenix Suns for Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks would solve multiple problems at once.
The Warriors would get younger, more athletic, and deeper. They would add an explosive scorer in Green and a tough defender in Brooks. They would save roughly $20 million in salary. They would position themselves for life after Curry without punting on the present.
The Suns would get a proven playoff performer in Butler. They would give Devin Booker the co-star he’s never had. They would add toughness, edge, and postseason experience.
The fit is there. The numbers work. The motivation is clear.
The Warriors should make this trade.