Warriors monster four-team Jimmy Butler trade idea lands $149 million two-time Finals MVP

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May 15, 2026 - 17:05

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Warriors monster four-team Jimmy Butler trade idea lands $149 million two-time Finals MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

While most hypothetical trade ideas centered on the Golden State Warriors are fairly straightforward, some have several moving parts.

In other words, multi-team Warriors Mock deals aren’t as uncommon as many think, as there are long-shot scenarios that would require the franchise to get creative.

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes that Golden State could pull off a monster four-team Jimmy Butler trade for a two-time NBA Finals MVP.

“Win-now is the default so long as Stephen Curry plays at a superhuman level when healthy,” Favale wrote Friday. "It's a lot harder to prop up urgent aspirations when Jimmy Butler may not return from his torn ACL before the calendar flips to 2027.”

“Kawhi Leonard will always be an availability risk himself, but he's working off a season in which he played 65 games, most of which came at a top-five-player level. Although punting on a lottery pick for a soon-to-be 35-year-old on an expiring contract isn't a no-brainer, this move is far safer than consolidating even more of their future firsts into another addition.”

“Plus, there is a chance Bradley Beal ends up being helpful upon returning from his hip injury. Even after landing Butler, the Warriors needed another scorer who could also handle the ball. Between Beal and Kawhi, they're netting two more.”

In Favale’s full trade proposal, the Washington Wizards would receive the No. 3 overall pick and Indiana's 2029 first-round pick via the Los Angeles Clippers, the Warriors would receive Leonard and Beal, the Clippers would receive Butler and the No. 1 overall pick, and the Memphis Grizzlies would receive the No. 5 overall pick and No. 11 overall pick.

Although acquiring Leonard (34) wouldn’t help Golden State shake the ‘Olden Warriors’ label they earned last offseason (Butler, Stephen Curry, Al Horford, and Draymond Green are all over 35 years old), it would land them a superstar veteran forward who has experience doing the one thing the Dubs are yearning for: reaching the promised land.

Leonard has won two championships as a top playmaking option and possesses a dynamic, polished two-way skill set that would instantly catapult the organization into title contention.

The San Diego State product averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game with the Clippers in 65 regular-season contests this season.

The Warriors shouldn’t dismiss Leonard’s recent injury struggles, but he’s unquestionably a trade target that makes sense for the seven-time NBA champions this summer.

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