Stephen Curry expressed hope for the resolution of recent drama surrounding Jimmy Butler following the former Miami Heat forward's trade to the Golden State Warriors. Butler waived his 2025-26 player option and signed a two-year extension as part of the multi-team trade that involved his transition to the Warriors, according to reports from Moneyline's Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst. This trade news emerged just before the Warriors faced the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

In a post-game interview after the Warriors' loss to the Jazz, Curry mentioned that he reached out to Butler during halftime. He received a 'very pleasant message' in response. 'I understand there's a lot of drama down there, and who really knows what the story is,' said Curry. 'We expect to have a motivated, committed Jimmy that's ready to impact our team for the better.' Curry emphasized the importance of Butler's commitment to the team, suggesting that Butler signing an extension indicates his intent to fit in and contribute positively to the Warriors.

Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr also commented on the difficulties of processing trade news that included the departures of Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Dennis Schröder shortly before tip-off. Kerr remarked, 'I think the league should consider making the trade deadline at the All-Star break, just so you don't have to face these games where guys are getting traded half an hour before a game, and you're trying to process the emotions and trying to win a game.' He suggested that moving the trade deadline or creating off days before it would alleviate some of the challenges teams face during this tumultuous period.

Despite Butler's turbulent time with the Heat, which included a public split and three suspensions, Curry remained optimistic about Butler's potential impact on the Warriors. 'It'll look different than what we're used to,' he stated, noting Butler's skill set as a shot creator and finisher. Curry expressed a desire to study film from Butler's time in Miami to better integrate Butler's strengths into the Warriors' playbook. Currently, the Warriors are seeking to improve their standing in the Western Conference, where they are close to the play-in tournament spots. The acquisition of Butler is seen as a significant opportunity for the Warriors as they aim to bolster their playoff prospects.