Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reiterated on Saturday that Jimmy Butler is simply someone who wants to make the right play. The 6x All-Star had been dominant in a 104-96 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, but it could have been far easier had some of his teammates come along for the ride.
The Warriors shot just over 40% from the floor on the night and only 25.5% from 3-point range -- numbers that would have looked worse if not for the play of Gary Payton II. If Butler is going to play facilitator more than flat-out scorer, particularly with Stephen Curry on the sidelines, then the front office still needs to grant him with a more appropriate roster than what's currently constructed.
Warriors still need to grant Jimmy Butler with more consistent role players
Butler finished the night with 10 assists, yet it could have been more given Golden State's shooting issues. Sometimes it's even the shots Butler's teammates don't take, including Brandin Podziemski whose pump-faking and apparent lack of confidence in his jump-shot has been a growing frustration among fans.
Podziemski did take a season-high nine 3-point attempts against the Pelicans, but the truth is that there's still a lack of consistency from the team's role players that subsequently impacts Butler's strengths as a playmaker.
If you look at Butler's last full season in Miami in 2023-24, he played alongside six different teammates who shot at least 39.5% from 3-point range. The 36-year-old doesn't have one single Golden State teammate doing that right now, with Butler's 43.6% from beyond the arc leading the team ahead of Moses Moody at 39.2%.
Butler needs consistent shooting and floor-spacing around him to really maximize his game, something that simply hasn't been forthcoming given the Warriors rank 16th in 3-point percentage so far this season.
Perhaps that's why the front office now feels its time to bring back Seth Curry, with confirmation that the veteran sharpshooter will sign a rest of season deal on Monday. That may go someway to granting Butler his wish, but it's unlikely that Curry emerges as someone who will average more than 15 minutes per game in the rotation.
For the moment Golden State simply need more consistent results from their role players, particularly Podziemski and Moody who play heavy minutes next to Butler, along with the center duo of Al Horford and Quinten Post who are shooting less than 32% from 3-point range combined to start the season.
If these concerns persist until closer to the deadline though, the Warriors will need to look at exactly what they can do to ensure they have players who can regularly capitalize on the gravity of Butler and the older Curry.