Jimmy Butler’s fight with Pat Riley wasn’t just gossip, it was a full-blown power struggle that finally went public. And when it did? It reverberated throughout the league. Butler had been a Miami boy for years, but it had gotten real messy. When the Golden State Warriors began contemplating making a move, they had to be positive that they were moving in the right direction.

Now Warriors owner Joe Lacob is shedding a little light into just how deep they dug before making that big $121 million bet on Butler. Before pulling the trigger on the blockbuster trade, the Warriors had one big question: Was Butler’s exit from Miami a red flag or just a nasty breakup? Because let’s be real—when a star player leaves a franchise like that, people start talking. And not all of it is true.

Lacob made it clear that the Warriors weren’t going to take any chances. They did their homework. “Well, that’s Mike’s job, and Mike does his job very well. Mike and Kirk and the whole group, actually,” Lacob said, giving props to Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and his team for digging into every detail. The rumors were impossible to ignore—missed team events, tension with Riley, a fiery confrontation behind closed doors. The headlines made Butler sound like a problem. But according to Lacob, a lot of that was just noise.

“I think that there’s a lot of agent speak out there, let’s just put it that way,” he added. “And there’s a variety of reasons for that. Pretty much if you hear it in the media or on TV or wherever, I wouldn’t take everything at face value is the bottom line.“

Translation? Not everything you hear is the truth. The Heat may have made Butler out to be the villain, but Golden State saw something different—an elite competitor who just wanted a fresh start. And not only was Butler open to coming to the Warriors, he craved it. And it has worked out so well so far.

Jimmy Butler delivers the goods upon his signing for the Golden State Warriors

Once the Warriors realized Butler’s exit wasn’t a dealbreaker, they wasted no time. They sent Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Davion Mitchell, and a protected first-round pick to Miami. A bold move? Absolutely. But so far, it’s looking like a massive win. In his first seven games, Butler has been exactly what the Warriors hoped for—18 points, 6 rebounds, 5.4 assists per game. But more importantly? The team is rolling. Since Butler’s arrival, they’ve gone 5-1 and now have the best defensive rating in the league.

That’s no coincidence.

Butler’s defensive versatility and leadership have been a game-changer. And for young guys like Jonathan Kuminga? He’s the perfect role model. Steve Kerr has already told Kuminga to watch Butler’s approach and learn from it. Oh, and here’s a fun twist—this trade also reunited Butler with Dunleavy Jr. They were teammates once upon a time, and now Dunleavy’s the guy who brought him to Golden State. If anyone knew exactly what kind of a competitor the Warriors were getting, it was him.

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For Butler, this was more than just a trade—it was a fresh start. Miami’s culture once fit him, but over time? It became clear they saw things differently. In Golden State, though? He doesn’t have to change who he is. The franchise embraces his leadership style instead of fighting it. What started as a messy, drama-filled breakup in Miami turned into an absolute steal for Golden State. The Warriors didn’t just blindly believe the narratives surrounding Butler. They investigated, evaluated, and trusted their gut.

And now? That $121 million bet looks like a masterstroke. Instead of drama, the Warriors got a battle-tested leader. And Butler? He finally landed in a place that lets him be himself and thrive.