The Golden State Warriors remained loyal to Jimmy Butler during the offseason, passing on trades that would have sent out the injured six-time All-Star and draft capital for alternatives stars such as Jaylen Brown and Anthony Davis.
A trade for Brown, in particular, would have instantly boosted the Warriors' championship credentials. Not only is the former Finals MVP not dealing with a long-term knee injury, he's also eight years younger and just generally now viewed as a better player.
But while all that is true and many fans are left disappointed that Brown is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers rather than Golden State, a playoff run with the former Boston Celtics forward wouldn't have held the same fairytale element that the Warriors will get if they can manage that outcome with a returning Butler.
Warriors bet on Jimmy Butler fairytale after passing on Jaylen Brown trade
Perhaps Golden State are being too loyal to Butler amid his rehabilitation process, with the unwillingness to move the 37-year-old once again laid out in a detailed piece by ESPN's Anthony Slater on Friday.
"The Warriors didn't show an appetite to offer Butler for Anthony Davis orJaylen Brown this summer, considering the pick packages required and contracts attached to both," Slater wrote.
In a brutal industry where sentiment and feelings are often thrown out the door, the Warrior front office regularly remains committed to their own players, probably too much so on occasions. But that also means players feel valued, with Butler reiterating his desire to retire with Golden State after reaching an expiry date at other previous organizations.
The loyalty and commitment shown to Butler may end up backfiring. While the veteran forward is hellbent to return as the elite player he was, we can't dismiss an outcome where he's simply not the same after suffering a brutal injury so deep into his career. The Warriors are banking on getting the pre-injury Butler again, and without it they might struggle just to make the playoffs.
But their commitment also means that any success after Butler returns will be all the sweeter. Can you imagine if Golden State can get back to the Western Conference Finals or beyond with Butler riding alongside Stephen Curry? That would surely mean so much more to everyone involved, including the fanbase, than if it were Brown or someone else in the Butler spot.
The problem is that few hold legitimate optimism of Butler returning and the Warriors making another significant playoff run. Only time will tell if the front office's loyalty to Butler was well placed and ultimately the right decision, or if it cost them and Curry another chance at meaningful contention over the next two or three seasons.
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