Confirmed! Farewell Warriors! Another NBA star has fallen

The announcement has been made, and unfortunately, it's bad news.

Insider Shams revealed:Butler suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the season...

In the recently concluded Warriors home game, winning 135-112 against the Heat, Butler went down hard in the third quarter after catching a pass from Bojanowski during a physical battle.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t Butler’s first serious knee injury; previously, in 2018, he tore his right knee meniscus, and in 2024, he sprained his right knee’s medial collateral ligament.

So far this season, Butler has played 38 games, averaging 31.1 minutes per game, contributing 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals. His shooting percentages are 51.9%, 37.6%, and 86.4% respectively, helping the Warriors currently hold an eighth place in the Western Conference with a 25-19 record. Before last year’s trade deadline, Butler was traded to the Warriors in exchange for Wiggins and others, and together they advanced to the second round of last season’s playoffs.

Butler was born on September 14, 1989, making him 36 years old. His current contract runs through the summer of 2027, with a salary of $54.13 million this season and $56.83 million next season.

Losing such a key player like Butler instantly dims the Warriors’ prospects this season. While they still have a chance to make the playoffs, their championship hopes are basically over. Reporter Slater commented,Butler’s season-ending injury before this year’s trade deadline (February 6) complicates and alters the Warriors’ short-term and long-term plans.

With Butler out for the season, it is highly unlikely the Warriors will trade Kuminga, who has missed 16 consecutive games; alternatively, they might expedite a trade to swap Kuminga for the Nets’ Porter.

Porter, a 2023 champion forward, is currently averaging 25.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season, shooting 48.5% overall and hitting 3.8 three-pointers per game at a 39.8% clip. His arrival would at least help the Warriors fill the scoring void left by Butler’s injury.