In early February, the Golden State Warriors were sitting at 10th place in the Western Conference and appeared to be destined for mediocrity. But since acquiring Jimmy Butler via trade on Feb. 5, they have gone 15-2 and jumped up to 6th place in the West. With every aspect of the team seemingly improving upon Butler’s arrival, should the Warriors be considered legit contenders?
Jimmy Butler is known for his brashness and unpredictability, but he’s currently in the “honeymoon” phase that he’s had with other teams, and the Warriors should capitalize on it. Butler strengthens their defense alongside Draymond Green and allows their offense to slow down into some halfcourt sets. He gets to the FT line with ease, so for late-game purposes, he’s a huge addition.
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There is no doubt that Butler’s arrival has helped put the Warriors back on track and on their way to the playoffs. In terms of being a title contender though, there are some weaknesses. Golden State lacks a legitimate rim protector and they struggle to grab rebounds against bigger teams, which will be exploited in the playoffs.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder being the only team in the West that’s truly separated themselves from the rest, the Warriors should at least be on the radar when it comes to underdog contenders.
James Parker is an NBA writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
