Golden State Warriors' play-off 2025 chances after Jimmy Butler trade

NBA Rumors: Golden State Warriors' play-off 2025 chances after Jimmy Butler trade

The Golden State Warriors, who currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference and would qualify for the play-in tournament if the season ended today, made one of their biggest moves of the season ahead of the trade deadline when they acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. The Warriors still have some elite talent from their dynasty days, including Draymond Green and Stephen Curry, but they have been struggling this season. Adding Jimmy Butler is crucial to the team's hopes of making the playoffs because they have one of the best players in the league in Stephen Curry, and they needed to complement him with another superstar.

They did just that, but will it be sufficient for this squad to qualify for the postseason?

The Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns appear to be the four teams vying for the final three Western Conference places at the moment. Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves are in seventh place right now, it would be remarkable if they missed the postseason. Without Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs' season is probably gone, as they currently sit in 12th place.

A few Western figures predict that the Warriors will qualify for the postseason, and it should be a close race all the way to the end. According to one executive, the Suns will be the team excluded.

According to an ESPN article, the executive stated, "Phoenix, which is wild to say." "They appear to be unable to tolerate each other's company."

The Mavericks are on the verge of dropping in the rankings, according to one Western scout, but they are also a little tired of the Kings.

"I have no faith in the Kings," the scout declared. "With all of the injuries and the return dates for each player, I believe Dallas is the biggest threat to be dropped."

The majority of people anticipate that the Warriors will make it to the postseason now that they have Jimmy Butler. 

They will most likely finish up in the play-in round, though, so it appears doubtful that they would really qualify for the playoffs straight out of the regular season. Golden State would need to win two games to qualify for the playoffs because they are currently in ninth position.

Since Butler's debut, the Warriors have gone 5-1 and are at 30-27 on the season. Since then, they have managed to move up a few spots in the rankings, and it will be interesting to see how the Western Conference turns out in the end.