After Klay Thompson’s departure, the Golden State Warriors are facing the prospect of trying to win a title without their iconic core. But when one star goes, it leaves room for the arrival of another, and the Warriors reportedly already have a replacement in mind: longtime veteran Jimmy Butler.

“Jimmy Butler’s going to be a free agent next summer. Didn’t get an extension done. The Warriors have interest there and probably made a couple calls [to Miami] this summer,” reported Sam Amick on The TK Show.

Butler, 34, is well-respected around the league for his professionalism, competitive spirit, and his admirable work ethic. The 6x All-Star completed stints with the Bulls, Timberwolves, and 76ers before making his way to the Miami Heat, where he’s been since 2019.

Over five years with the Heat, Butler is averaging 21.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game on 49.6% shooting. He’s led them to the NBA Finals twice and helped them advance to the Eastern Finals back in 2022.

Publicly, Butler has been very vocal about this loyalty to the Heat and he’s announced his intentions to retire with the franchise several times before. After achieving so much success together, Butler and the Heat are intertwined and many are convinced that the NBA swingman will retire in their uniform.

But lately, there have been rumblings about a potential breakup in Miami, with Butler in the middle. Even at 34, Jimmy could earn quite a haul on the trade market and with his contract set to expire next summer, the Heat have seemingly warmed up to the idea of trading him.

As it stands, the Warriors would have the most to benefit from a Butler trade. After averaging 26.4 points per game last season, Stephen Curry proved that he’s still an elite athlete and now the Warriors need to surround him with talent that can maximize his game.

In the wake of Klay Thompson’s departure, the only reliable help that Steph has left is Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga, who both had many ups and downs last season. With only a few years left, Curry (36) needs more backup than ever before in order to return the franchise to a state of contention.

For his skills as a defender and bucket-getter, Jimmy Butler would make a fine addition to the Warriors. His old-school, interior-oriented game is a direct contrast to Curry’s and his competitive edge will ensure that the entire rotation is playing up to their maximum potential.

It remains to be seen what the Warriors would have to give up in such a deal, but it’s worth consideration for a team that’s so desperate to be competitive in the West. While they may never rebuild the dynasty of old, Curry and Butler could signal a return to the glory days if they have the chance to play together on the same side.

As it stands, the future is still uncertain when it comes to Butler and the Warriors. Until we know more about where each team stands next season, it’ll be difficult to determine whether they will make a major trade before February’s deadline. But if it comes down to that, it might not be such a bad thing for either side.