Jimmy Butler Responds to Draymond Green Jab After New Miami Heat Trade

The Golden State Warriors aggressively pursued roster changes at the 2025 NBA trade deadline, aiming to re-enter playoff contention. This urgency intensified after the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic. Ultimately, the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, a star who had led Miami to two NBA Finals appearances but became disgruntled amid contract extension issues.

Butler’s final season with the Heat was marked by turmoil, including a notable incident where he walked out of a shootaround after learning he would be benched in favor of Haywood Highsmith. However, Miami later traded Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets in a salary-dump move, prompting Warriors forward Draymond Green to reference Butler. Butler humorously responded on social media, denying involvement in Highsmith’s departure and joking about his offseason.

The Highsmith trade provides significant financial flexibility for Miami, placing them $4 million below the luxury tax and $9.5 million below the first apron hard cap. This signals the Heat’s lack of confidence in being playoff contenders next season, preferring to avoid luxury-tax penalties until they assemble a stronger roster. Miami had previously targeted Kevin Durant, offering a package including Highsmith, Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and a draft pick, but lost out to the Houston Rockets.

Consequently, the Heat enter the next season without a star to complement Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, likely remaining passive despite a weakened Eastern Conference landscape.