Cap Relief
In any trade which brings Butler to the Bay, Andre Iguodala or a key member of the core four (high unlikely) would have to be traded to match the cap impact. Butler is owed about $20 million while Iguodala has about $16.2 million coming his way this season.
While Iguodala is extremely impactful, he’s also one of the only contributors for Golden State that’s locked up for next season. If Iggy gets traded, the Dubs might have enough cap to keep both Durant and Thompson this offseason.
Butler is a free agent following this season. While he’s an all-star, the Dubs almost certainly wouldn’t retain him. Just like Cousins, Butler’s stint in Golden State would allow him to prove himself as a leader and then achieve a more desirable contract elsewhere.
If the Warriors truly want to keep both Thompson and Durant, they’ll find a way to ship Iguodala elsewhere. Adding in another player like Jacob Evans to sweeten the pot might be exactly what both sides need to make a trade happen.
Cap relief should be something Golden State is proactive in seeking and trading for Butler would bring them relief for this upcoming offseason.