MIAMI — As the NBA trade deadline approaches, both Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat and De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings remain with their respective teams for the moment. Golden State’s head coach, Steve Kerr, has indicated that the Warriors are actively considering their options as the deadline nears.
With the clock ticking down to Thursday afternoon’s cutoff, it’s unclear whether significant trades will take place or if the outcome will be rather quiet. Kerr highlighted the competitive landscape of the Western Conference, stating, “We don’t have enough to separate ourselves from the rest of the West… We’re not in a position where we can just say, ‘No, we’re good. Let’s stand pat.’ That’s the reality of where we are.”
Butler has expressed his desire to leave Miami, and the team is attempting to accommodate his request. The Golden State Warriors are reportedly one of the destinations Butler is interested in, alongside the Phoenix Suns, who are eager to secure a direct playoff position rather than wrestling with play-in spots.
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer commented on the organization’s aim to consistently improve, stating, “The front office… is always trying to make your team better. I’m happy with the group. We feel like we’ve got a very good team. Gonna coach them up and if there’s any changes, then I think it’s going to be made to improve us. I don’t really have any idea if anything will happen.”
The situation surrounding Fox in Sacramento has become a frequent topic of discussion. Kings player DeMar DeRozan shared that the uncertainty regarding Fox’s status is weighing heavily on the team. He mentioned, “Not knowing the future of that, it does make it tougher.”
On the other hand, one thing is clear: San Antonio Spurs’ sensation Victor Wembanyama will not be traded before the deadline. The Spurs have been linked to a potential trade for Fox, but Wembanyama expressed that the concept of being traded feels alien to him. He remarked, “It’s still something hard to realize that you can be traded, kind of like an object. It’s super weird.”
The Heat have ventured out on a four-game road trip that will last until after the trade deadline, and notably, Butler is not traveling due to an indefinite suspension that will continue for at least three more games. There’s a distinct possibility that some players currently traveling with the team might not be on the roster when they return home.
“We’ve got all the chaos going on,” noted Heat captain Bam Adebayo. “But these are the times where we go on the road and get that collective grit and huddle together and depend on one another.”
Kerr also pointed out that he and Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy are in constant communication about potential moves. Despite Stephen Curry being one of the league’s elite players, there have been moments this season illustrating the need for the Warriors to bolster their lineup to compete for another title. He stated, “Mike’s doing his due diligence… If there’s something that makes sense, he’s going to do it. And if not, then I’m very comfortable going forward with this team because I know what we’re capable of and I believe in the guys.”
