Warriors' Steve Kerr Announces Positive Jimmy Butler Update on Tuesday

Speaking to the media, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater, Kerr shared that Butler's MRI came back clean on Monday and that there's no concern about the injury. While that doesn't determine whether he'll be available for opening night or not, it does appear that there aren't any long-term concerns with his ankle.

A player who has battled numerous ankle injuries in recent years, it's a positive sign that Butler's MRI came back clean and that he's trending in the right direction instead of a prolonged injury period. A veteran team, one injury can derail this team if one of their stars goes down, and luckily, it appears that Butler's situation is minor.

Jimmy Butler's Value To Golden State

Butler's value and impact to Golden State was felt immediately in his debut last season after being acquired from the Miami Heat. In his first 15 games with the Warriors, Butler led the team to a 14-1 record. Not only did he look like a better version of himself, but everyone around him's play improved too.

Even though he's 36 now, that doesn't mean Butler can't contribute to winning anymore. Having young players like Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Jonathan Kuminga will help lighten the load, but Butler can still provide when needed. He had seven games of 25 or more points during the regular season, and the extra spacing in Golden State should only raise that number this season.

Speaking of the spacing, adding Al Horford into the mix should only make things easier for Butler. Especially in lineups where Golden State goes small with Butler at power forward and shooters all around him, it will allow him to attack the paint and post up smaller players, where he's at his best.