Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said Tuesday night that he has no plans to put Jimmy Butler on the trading block before the trade deadline this season.

On January 19th local time, Butler suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the 135-112 victory over the Miami Heat. He is confirmed to miss the remainder of the season, and his specific return date is yet to be assessed.

The Warriors have been on a winning streak recently, and after 45 rounds, they sit eighth in the Western Conference with a 25-20 record. However, Butler's season-ending injury is a major blow to the Warriors' championship aspirations. Given that the 36-year-old Butler will occupy a significant portion of the team's salary cap next season, his serious injury undoubtedly casts a shadow over the team's long-term plans.

Despite this, Mike Dunleavy remains optimistic about Jimmy Butler's recovery. At the Warriors' pre-game press conference against the Raptors, he said, "The key is to set a surgery date, after which he will enter the rehabilitation phase. The road to recovery is long, but we are optimistic that Jimmy's injury can be fully recovered. We hope he can return to the court as soon as possible."

When asked if he was considering trading Butler, Dunleavy Jr. responded clearly: "I have not considered trading him. I expect him to inject new energy into the team next year, just like he did when he joined last year. I hope that when he returns at some point in the season, he can continue to perform at his usual level."

"For his age, his performance this year is truly impressive. I believe he can remain competitive in the long term based on his playing style, physical attributes, and basketball IQ. That's why I hope he can return sometime between this time this year and next year."

Dunleavy Jr. then spoke about 23-year-old striker Jonathan Cuminga, who had requested a trade as early as January 15: "I know about his request, but a trade request is contingent on there being a corresponding demand in the market. So let's wait and see how things develop."

“I have always told the players that I am willing to negotiate with them. I want to help anyone, whether it is Cuminga or any player on our roster. However, we must prioritize the team's interests, and we will certainly act in accordance with that principle. As for the trade deadline, I think we will continue to evaluate the team's situation over the next one to two weeks.”

Dunleavy Jr. added, "He's still on the roster. Although he's requested a trade, there won't be any results in the short term. The league changes in an instant, just like what happened last night. So he has to be prepared, and so do we."

Image source: Internet