Jimmy Butler Instagram post ignites Warriors trade speculation

Jimmy Butler Instagram post ignites Warriors trade speculation originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that certainly rang true for Dub Nation with Jimmy Butler‘s latest Instagram story.

The Miami Heat star posted a flurry of photos to his Instagram story Thursday, including one sitting in a plane. But Warriors fans couldn’t help but notice where he was headed, as a map of his destination was displayed directly behind him.

That city? San Jose — which happens to be just about 45 miles south of Chase Center in San Francisco, where the Warriors play.

And in typical social media fashion, Warriors fans immediately reacted to the post and speculated if it could mean Butler soon would be joining Steph Curry and the Warriors in the Bay.

As Golden State is in the midst of a somewhat transitional period following a disappointing 2023-24 NBA season, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy is presented with the tall task of finding the solution, which includes several difficult decisions, such as the future of Klay Thompson.

Amid all this, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater wrote last week that he expects the Warriors to “enter the conversation” if Miami ever makes Jimmy Butler available.

Butler, who has spent the past five seasons with the Miami Heat and reached the NBA Finals twice, reportedly is looking for a maximum contract extension. Thus far, it’s unknown if the Heat are willing to give it to him.

Multiple teams, however, including the Philadelphia 76ers, reportedly are willing to pay him if they could acquire him through a trade.

Of course, speculation is just that — speculation. But if there’s one thing a fanbase will do during an offseason, it’s speculate.

And if there’s one thing Jimmy Butler will do, it’s to sit back, live his life and let things play out as they must. Hopefully next time, though, for the sake of NBA fans, he blocks his destination.

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