The Golden State Warriors are always in the market to trade for stars, especially as Stephen Curry remains firmly in the tail of his prime. Yet trading for Anthony Davis would be a massive move -- and it certainly cannot happen by trading Jimmy Butler, as mad trade scientist Bill Simmons just cooked up.
The vultures are circling around the Dallas Mavericks right now after the in-season firing of general manager Nico Harrison. From trading away Luka Doncic to squandering role players and picks on short-sighted moves, Harrison mismanaged the Mavericks into a terrible situation. If they hadn't inexplicably won the Draft Lottery and added Cooper Flagg, their situation would be as bad as any team in the league.
With Harrison gone, it's only a matter of time before the Mavericks begin officially shopping Anthony Davis. The 10-time All-Star is a player many teams would want; when healthy (admittedly a big if) he is a Top-5 defender and a solid offensive player. Put him with a high-end offensive creator and playmaker on the perimeter and you have a really good team.
The Warriors know that all-too-well, as Davis has been a thorn in their side at multiple stops. Their postseason losses to the Lakers over the years have come down to how impactful he has been defensively in walling off the paint and smothering the Warriors' offense. To add him to their team would be a glorious boon to their defense and overall team.
Yet any trade comes with a cost, both in terms of assets and matching salary. The Warriors and Mavericks are both pressed up against their respective tax aprons, so neither team can send out more money than they take back. That requires either a third team to be involved...or a player making the same exact amount of money as Anthony Davis, down to the penny.
Should the Warriors trade Jimmy Butler for Anthony Davis?
Enter Jimmy Butler. The Warriors' newest star is making $54,126,450 this season -- exactly 35 percent of the NBA's salary cap. Three other players are making that same 35 percent number: Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis. Therefore, trading Butler for Davis would be a nice, neat 1-for-1 financial swap.
That's why Bill Simmons pitched the trade on his Bill Simmons Show podcast when talking to Chuck Klosterman. The idea is that the Warriors need help at center (mostly true) and have always wanted that level of dominant two-way center, dating back to their failed swing at James Wiseman in the 2020 NBA Draft. Butler has played well in Golden State, but he is not a core part of the team like Draymond Green is.
The idea is intriguing enough to get some momentum going, until you step back from dream land and consider the facts. Anthony Davis does not space the court reliably, he is due for a contract extension, and he is always injury. That's why Charles Barkley calls him "Street Clothes." He is currently dealing with a calf injury that has held him out for weeks and likely cost Harrison his job.
The Warriors with a healthy Anthony Davis in place of Jimmy Butler? Perhaps there is something there. The Warriors with an injured Davis due for a new lucrative deal? Not as enticing. And that's almost certainly what the Warriors will receive.
Golden State has to prioritize every postseason that they have left with Stephen Curry playing at an All-NBA level. Adding Davis is a 50/50 proposition that they won't have him for a postseason run at all. The Warriors aren't trading for Kawhi Leonard, they aren't trading for Joel Embiid, and they aren't trading for Anthony Davis. Certainly not at the cost of Jimmy Butler.
The Warriors have not been pristine coming out of the gate, but they believe they have a chance with this group. Bill Simmons needs to cool it with his crazy trade ideas -- this one is not going to happen.