Warriors' Jimmy Butler Trade Proposal: Do Tyler Herro and Myles Turner Convince Steph Curry to Stay?
Warriors reportedly floated a Jimmy Butler trade to the Bucks for Tyler Herro, Myles Turner and two first-rounders. Here's why it may not be enough for Curry.
What Exactly Are the Warriors Proposing in This Jimmy Butler Deal?
According to trade chatter circulating around the league, the Warriors have floated sending Jimmy Butler to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Tyler Herro, Myles Turner, and two first-round picks. It's a significant swing Butler, who arrived in Golden State via a February 2025 trade from Miami that sent out Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schröder, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-rounder, is signed through 2026-27 on a two-year deal worth roughly $111-121 million, with his final season carrying a $56.8 million expiring salary that makes him a valuable asset for other franchises.
It's worth being clear about where things stand: this is a proposal, not a done deal. Golden State has previously told Butler it planned to keep him around, and reports as recently as this year indicated the Warriors had no appetite to move him before prior deadlines. That makes this latest framework more of a signal of where the front office's thinking might be heading than a transaction that's close to the finish line.
Can Tyler Herro Fill the Jimmy Butler-Sized Hole in Golden State's Offense?
Butler's value to the Warriors was never about volume scoring it was about his ability to get downhill, draw fouls, and orchestrate offense in crunch time when Curry needs a breather. Herro, coming off a 20.5 points, 4.1 assists and 37.8% three-point shooting season, offers a different flavor of shot creation. He's a more natural scorer off the dribble and a legitimate movement shooter, which should mesh well in a system built around motion and off-ball gravity.
Where Herro likely falls short of Butler's impact is on the defensive end and in the connective, playmaking-for-others department. Butler's versatility as a two-way wing who could guard multiple positions and facilitate in the post gave Golden State a Swiss-army-knife option late in games. Herro is more of a pure offensive weapon dynamic with the ball, but not the same kind of stabilizing presence when possessions get tight.
Does Myles Turner Finally Solve Golden State's Size Problem?
The Warriors' lack of interior size and rim protection has been a recurring storyline for years, and Turner's addition would directly address that. Coming off a season with 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 38.5% three-point shooting on 5.5 attempts per game, Turner is exactly the kind of stretch-five that fits a Curry-centric offense — a big who can space the floor from deep while still contesting shots at the rim.
Roughly 58% of Turner's shot attempts came from beyond the arc last season, and he converted 63.7% of his looks at the rim on limited volume, painting a picture of a floor-spacing center rather than a traditional post scorer. That profile is almost tailor-made for Golden State's system, since he wouldn't need touches to be effective — he'd simply punish teams for helping off him on the perimeter while providing legitimate length defensively, something the Warriors have often lacked in their frontcourt rotation.
Are Two First-Round Picks Enough to Sweeten the Pot?
On paper, two first-round picks look like a nice bonus for Milwaukee, but the value proposition depends entirely on where Golden State sits in its championship window. The Warriors are operating on a win-now timeline built around Curry, not a rebuild — which makes future draft equity a lower priority than immediate roster fit. Giving up two firsts to acquire Herro and Turner signals the front office is willing to spend future assets to stay competitive today, but it also means less flexibility to pivot or add later if this specific combination doesn't click.
For a team trying to convince its franchise cornerstone that the roster is still built to win, mortgaging future picks only matters if the players coming back can move the needle in the playoffs. Herro and Turner are solid, useful pieces — but neither is the kind of star-level talent that typically justifies parting with multiple first-rounders in a vacuum.
Does This Trade Move the Needle on Stephen Curry's Future in Golden State?
Curry becomes extension-eligible in late August, and reporting suggests mutual interest in a new deal — potentially a two-year max extension worth $135-136.7 million. Insiders have described trade speculation around Curry as having "zero truth," and Curry himself has reportedly given no indication he wants out, with a stated desire to finish his career with one franchise.
Still, wanting to stay and believing the roster can win are two different things. Swapping Butler for Herro and Turner rebalances the roster — more shooting, more size, arguably better fit around Curry's off-ball movement — but it doesn't obviously raise Golden State's ceiling in a stacked Western Conference. It's a sensible retooling move more than a bold statement, and that distinction matters. If the Warriors want Curry's extension conversation to go smoothly, they'll likely need to show him more than a lateral swap — they'll need proof this roster can actually compete for a title, not just look different.
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