Last Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors made a much-anticipated blockbuster trade, adding Jimmy Butler to the fold. In his two games with the Warriors, he has been stellar, averaging 22.5 points as the Dubs cruised to easy wins over the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.

As a physical, defensive-minded wing, the Warriors were eager to ink him to a two-year extension, keeping him in Golden State through the 2026-27 season.

There has long been speculation about whether or not the Warriors see Jonathan Kuminga as a long-term fit, and this trade seems to signal that they don’t, but not all is as it seems.

Jimmy Butler #10 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket and a foul with Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 against the Chicago Bull...
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Making the case for building with Kuminga

Kuminga has sat out since Jan. 4 with an ankle sprain, but in 32 games so far this season, he has averaged a solid 16.8 points, five rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 45.9% from the floor and serving as one of the Dubs’ better defenders.

While Kuminga is a solid player, there is no doubt that Butler is better on both ends of the ball.

There is a growing belief that the Warriors would have to pick between the two forwards, but with Butler signed to an extension and Kuminga ready to enter restricted free agency, it seems like the choice has been made.

“There’s the positive way to look at it and the negative way to look at it,” said The Athletic’s Anthony Slater on FanDuel’s Run It Back.