Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob defended Jimmy Butler in his response to a frustrated fan's email that was leaked in recent days, with those sentiments vindicated by a fiery on-court answer from the 6x All-Star during Thursday's heart-breaking loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Butler had drawn criticism for his lack of aggression in recent times, having taken 31 field-goal attempts over the last three games. The veteran forward silenced some of that noise, proving the only real source of offense in an otherwise lacklustre performance from the visitors on that side of the ball.
Jimmy Butler vindicated Joe Lacob's comments despite the loss
Butler started the game with a couple of successful drives against Phoenix center Mark Williams, eventually finishing with 16 first-half points as Golden State took a seven-point lead. He added another six points in the first two minutes of the third-quarter, giving the Warriors a 14-point lead and seemingly control of the game.
As they tend to do, the Warriors quickly handed back the momentum with sloppy turnovers. They scored 25 points in nearly 20 minutes following that 14-point lead, something everyone, including Butler, should take responsibility for.
However, Golden State would have been nowhere on the night anyway if not for Butler's 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. The Warriors have plenty of issues that continue to worsen over recent weeks, but Lacob may have been right in suggesting Butler isn't one of them.
Perhaps there should be some frustration that Butler can't provide these type of 25-30-point performances more often, but the reality is that's not necessarily who he wants to be. This was just the 36-year-old's third 30-point game of the season, and the first time reaching 25 points for a month.
While everyone excluding Stephen Curry should be expendable to varying degrees before the mid-season trade deadline, the Warriors should absolutely be looking to add to the Curry-Butler duo rather than sensationally moving on from that combination.
If it's what it takes to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, then sure Butler could be on the table. Yet beyond that, he should still remain the second-most untouchable player on the roster. For example, Golden State should be much more open to moving Draymond Green than they are Butler, even despite the former's stature at the franchise for well over a decade.
Butler reiterated his ability to impact winning against the Suns, but the Warriors just need more potency and consistency surrounding he and Curry as they look to climb out of their current hole.