The Billion-Dollar "What If": How the Warriors Dodged a Financial Bullet with Klay Thompson

The NBA is a league of moments, but sometimes, the most defining ones are the trades that don't happen. For the Golden State Warriors, one such pivotal crossroads emerged in 2014, a decision that not only sculpted their historic dynasty but also, in a fascinating twist of fate, may have saved them from owing a staggering sum to one of the league's fiercest competitors: Jimmy Butler.

Before Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green became the undisputed core of a championship empire, the Warriors faced a critical choice.

Kevin Love, then a star forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, was a prime trade target, and Golden State was heavily in the mix. The proposed deal was tantalizing: the Warriors would send Klay Thompson to Minnesota as part of a larger package for Love. Whispers at the time, and later confirmed by reports, suggested this wasn't a simple two-team swap.

It was speculated to be a three-team trade, with a "mystery player" from the Chicago Bulls – none other than a young, emerging Jimmy Butler – heading to Minnesota or potentially Golden State.

Imagine a world where the Warriors pulled the trigger. Stephen Curry would have been paired with Kevin Love, a dynamic offensive duo.

But at what cost? The very cornerstone of their future, Klay Thompson, would have been gone. And with him, the "Splash Brothers" moniker, the seamless off-ball movement, the clutch shooting, and the defensive tenacity that defined their most dominant years. Crucially, the alternative path could have seen Jimmy Butler eventually land in Golden State, or at least be part of the assets exchanged.

Bob Myers, then the Warriors' General Manager, famously held firm, refusing to part with Thompson.

This decision, widely lauded as one of the best in modern NBA history, wasn't just about retaining talent; it was about recognizing a unique synergy that would soon erupt into unprecedented success. Keeping Klay allowed the Warriors to foster a homegrown identity, cultivate unparalleled chemistry, and build a system that perfectly leveraged the talents of Curry, Thompson, and Green.

Fast forward to today.

Jimmy Butler, now a bona fide superstar and perennial playoff hero, commands a massive salary. He signed a three-year, $146.4 million extension with the Miami Heat in 2021, set to earn over $50 million in the final year of that deal. Had he somehow ended up in Golden State as a consequence of that 2014 trade, and developed into the force he is today, the Warriors would theoretically be on the hook for a similar, if not larger, max contract.

Their current salary cap situation, already complex with Curry, Thompson, and Green's max deals, would be exponentially more challenging, potentially jeopardizing their ability to retain other key players or build depth.

In stark contrast, Klay Thompson, despite his own max deal and significant earnings, has consistently been seen as a pillar of the Warriors' unique identity and collective success.

His commitment to the team, his specific role, and his undeniable chemistry with Curry have been invaluable. While financially a substantial investment, it's one the Warriors have reaped immense returns from, both in championships and in team cohesion. The hypothetical cost of a Jimmy Butler contract, in addition to the loss of Klay's specific contributions, highlights the sheer financial and strategic brilliance of their 2014 refusal.

The tale of the 2014 trade that wasn't is a testament to the foresight of the Golden State Warriors' front office.

By choosing Klay Thompson, they not only solidified a championship core but also, perhaps inadvertently, sidestepped a potentially enormous financial commitment to a different star. It's a vivid reminder that in the high-stakes world of professional basketball, the best moves aren't always about who you acquire, but sometimes, about who you choose to keep.

The Warriors don't owe Jimmy Butler a dime, and that's precisely why they became a dynasty.