Dunleavy: Warriors have 'no room for error' with Butler addition
Jimmy Butler's acquisition satisfied the Golden State Warriors' goal of adding another star alongside Stephen Curry.
However, general manager Mike Dunleavy cautioned that the onus is now on the team to redeem a disappointing campaign in the final two months of the regular season.
"We set out to find somebody who's a difference-maker," Dunleavy said at Butler's official introduction Thursday, courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle's Sam Gordon. "We've got to be better at the top of the roster, and we were able to get a guy like Jimmy. All and all, pretty pleased.
"We've got 32 games here in the regular season to get it going. There's no room for error."
Golden State parted with Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III, a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick, and a 2031 second-rounder in a five-team blockbuster to land the 35-year-old, who was exiled by the Miami Heat for demanding a trade.
Wiggins was the only player sent out by the Warriors who'd been with the organization for multiple seasons. Golden State first acquired the former No. 1 pick in February 2020 from the Minnesota Timberwolves. He held a critical role as a starter during their 2022 postseason run, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, a steal, and a block in 22 starts to help the Warriors topple the Boston Celtics in the Finals to win their seventh championship.
The Warriors did manage to hold on to 22-year-old Jonathan Kuminga, who's on course to become a restricted free agent this summer, as well as second-year guard Brandin Podziemski. The two were reportedly sought by the Utah Jazz in summer trade talks regarding Lauri Markkanen, but Golden State refused to part with either.
Golden State also still controls five of its next seven first-rounders. A top-20 protected pick in 2030 to the Washington Wizards is the team's only other first-round obligation, apart from the conditional 2025 selection sent to Miami.
Dunleavy said he was focused on improving the franchise's chances of winning another NBA title with Curry, 36, and Draymond Green, 34, without sacrificing significant pieces of its future.
"We're going in a direction, and we have three, kind of older generational players," he said Thursday. "The beauty of the whole thing to me is we've got a lot of good complementary players.
"We've got assets. We've got young players. … On the whole, I think we'll have a lot of flexibility and ability to improve the roster, change things and so what we need to do to keep this core."
Butler's arrival also represents a reunion with Dunleavy. The Warriors executive was teammates with the forward for three seasons on the Chicago Bulls from 2013-16.