Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

NBA Trade Idea Pairs Steph Curry And Jimmy Butler With 2-Time All-Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 16, 2025 5:00 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors made a blockbuster trade in February, acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. The trade worked out very well for the Dubs, who went 22-5 with Butler and Steph Curry in the lineup.

The Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in seven games, setting up a clash with Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round.

Golden State won Game 1 in Minnesota, but Curry suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and was lost for the rest of the series. Without the two-time MVP, the Warriors lost four games in a row.

Curry and Butler proved to be a dynamic duo this season, but one NBA analyst believes the Warriors need one more All-Star to make a serious run at the championship next season.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Warriors trade Jonathan Kuminga to the Chicago Bulls this summer for Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball and a 2029 top-5 protected first-round pick.

This would be a sign-and-trade deal since Kuminga becomes a restricted free agent this offseason.

"The Warriors need a center, and the Chicago Bulls have a win-now big man in Nikola Vucevic, whose shooting and passing would make him an easy fit on offense," Bailey wrote. "His defense is certainly tougher to sell, but a team with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler can hide a lot of Vuc's flaws on that end."

Vucevic has played for the Orlando Magic and Bulls. He's a two-time All-Star with career averages of 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds.

The 34-year-old Vucevic appeared in 73 games for the Bulls this season. He averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting 53.0% from the field, 40.2% from 3 and 80.5% from the foul line.

If the Warriors acquired Vucevic this summer, head coach Steve Kerr could start Curry, Buddy Hield, Butler, Draymond Green and Vucevic next season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: