Andrew Wiggins would have faced initial disappointment after the Golden State Warriors shipped him out for Jimmy Butler just over 18 months ago, but as time passes the trade just keeps getting better for the former number one overall pick.
Despite some uncertainty over his long-term place in Miami over the past 12 months, Wiggins has been a major winner of the offseason and now has a solidified (and excellent) role on a team that looks infinitely closer to contention than the Warriors who, in contrast, have had a disappointing summer marred by inactivity.
Jimmy Butler trade just keeps getting better for Andrew Wiggins
Not only did Miami beat out Golden State on a Giannis Antetokunmpo trade at the start of the offseason, but they did so without moving Wiggins who surely wouldn’t have been thrilled with ending up at a rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks team if that’s how it went down.
The Antetokounmpo move pushes Wiggins and the Heat into legitimate relevance after a time in the NBA wilderness. In fact, dating back to his final full season with Golden State, Wiggins has appeared in just four playoff games in the past three years -- two absences from the playoffs intertwined by a first-round series sweep at the hands of Cleveland Cavaliers in 2025.
The Antetokounmpo addition also puts Wiggins into arguably the best possible role that fits his skillset. He’s not going to be tasked with being a primary offensive option, rather he can just focus on defense and hitting catch-and-shoot threes generated by the interior presence of Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
To top things off, Wiggins opted into his $30.2 million player option and agreed to an additional two-year, $33.8 million extension at the Heat, while he now gets to reunite with Klay Thompson after the Golden State legend secured a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks which opened the door for a move to South Beach.
Jimmy Butler trade might prove a win-win for all parties
This might be a rare deal where all parties win from the trade, or at least the two teams and the two featured players in Butler and Wiggins. Golden State certainly got the better short-term impact as Butler instantly helped them to the playoffs, but things have taken a turn after the six-time All-Star’s torn ACL against Miami in January.
Even accounting for the injury, the Warriors are likely still content with the trade, while Butler got paid and appears to genuinely love it in the Bay after completely burning bridges in Miami following two trips to the Finals with the franchise in 2020 and 2023.
Wiggins, meanwhile, hasn’t set the world alight through his first season and a half at the Heat, but now gets a perfect opportunity on a contender playing alongside a star tandem and a former championship teammate.
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