Oct 27, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) dribbles past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Is former Miami Heat star already questioning Warriors' plan?

Originally posted on Miami Heat on SI
By Ethan J. Skolnick | Last updated Sep 17, 2025 7:43 PM ET

There is typically a honeymoon period for Jimmy Butler.

In the first few months, maybe even years, he expresses consistent happiness and a franchise is therefore happy to have him. He hoops at a high level, makes some jokes, all is well.

But then at some point it tends to turn. Sometimes, it's over money -- the Miami Heat experienced that during a tumultuous 2024-25 season in which it handed out suspensions rather than rings. Sometimes, it's over role or the roster, and the Heat felt some of that too over time.

So it was interesting to read this report, not even eight months after the Golden State Warriors acquired Butler from the Heat for Andrew Wiggins and more.

Jimmy Butler has reached out to the Warriors’ front office to try to understand exactly what their plan is , per @DaltonJ_Johnson

“In that ESPN article, they mentioned that Draymond and Jimmy have checked in and reached out to Jonathan Kuminga. I can confidently say that… pic.twitter.com/GfHzSTWarV
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 17, 2025

This is not to say Butler is unhappy with his situation; he certainly doesn't seem so on social media. But could this be where it starts? He was known to have some frustration with the Heat's tendency to "run it back" during his tenure, even though they would argue they didn't, making adjustments to the roster though never acquiring another big-time star.

Well, no team has run it back like the Warriors this offseason. They haven't signed anyone, the only team in the NBA at this point that hasn't made a move. They are engaged in a dispute over value with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, and while there has much discussion of them bringing in veteran Al Horford (an old Butler rival), it isn't done yet.

REPORT: The Warriors plan to sign Al Horford once Jonathan Kuminga’s stalemate ends, per @anthonyVslater.

(h/t @esidery) pic.twitter.com/tiYywdFSqc
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 17, 2025

It seems that getting Butler in February was the move, as the West has gotten even more stacked this summer, with Denver getting Nikola Jokic some depth, and Houston (the team the Warriors eliminated in the first round) adding Kevin Durant.

There have also been reports that the Warriors, already deep into the luxury tax, want to keep their books relatively clean in 2027 to go after the likes of Jokic and Giannis Antekoumpo.

That would mean not adding much until then.

It also means Butler may not last beyond 2027, to clear the room for the next star.

So is he unhappy? He's rich, getting the contract from Golden State he wanted from Miami. So probably not. But it bears watching. Certainly some inside the Heat organization still are.

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This article first appeared on Miami Heat on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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