Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: NBA insider shoots down Warriors' interest in Heat superstar post-front office drama

The Golden State Warriors' front office is reportedly on edge following Tuesday's 114-98 blowout home loss to the Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat. However, according to NBA insider Sam Amick, the franchise has no plan to make a blockbuster trade for the disgruntled six-time All-Star.

After months of speculation about his discontentment, Butler requested a trade on Jan. 2. A day later, Miami suspended him for seven games "for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team" amid his apparent efforts to get dealt.

While the Heat have struggled in Butler's absence, they took care of business against Golden State, one of the superstar forward's rumored suitors.

Following the Warriors' 16-point defeat, coach Steve Kerr called out his squad's "personnel-based" below-average layup and free-throw shooting frequency. He added that it was a problem for the team's general manager, Mike Dunleavy Jr., to address.

Per Amick, Dunleavy and Golden State owner Joe Lacob had a "spicy" meeting after the lopsided loss. He added that onlookers could "feel the frustration from the group."

Nevertheless, according to the insider, the Warriors are uninterested in giving Butler the maximum contract extension he desires. So, they don't want to risk trading for the 14-year veteran, who has a $52.4 million player option for next season.

"They don't have interest in giving him the deal that he's waiting for on the other end, and I don't think they're looking to make him a rental and have it be a strained relationship with him coming to town if they somehow were able to get him, in spite of the fact that they don't want to do a max extension," Amick said on Thursday's episode of FanDuel TV's "Run It Back."

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Warriors reluctant to deal Jonathan Kuminga amid Jimmy Butler trade rumors

Later in Thursday's report, Sam Amick added that another reason Golden State isn't aggressively pursuing Jimmy Butler is its contentment with its wing rotation.

He added that the organization is reluctant to trade fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga despite him facing a multi-week absence due to a right ankle sprain.

"Their reasoning for not going after Jimmy, even beyond the money, is that, to this point, they've been pretty happy with Andrew Wiggins' play, and the idea of also giving up a Jonathan Kuminga in that deal, even though he's hurt right now, is something they weren't looking to do," Amick said.

Through 32 outings, Kuminga is the Warriors' second-leading scorer (16.8 points per game). While his production has been up and down, he has shown flashes of becoming a consistent secondary scoring option behind superstar point guard Steph Curry.

Thus, it appears Golden State (18-18) is pivoting in another direction with less than a month before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.

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