Draymond Green Sends Message to Jimmy Butler After NBA Trade on Friday

Draymond Green Sends Message to Jimmy Butler After NBA Trade on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Jimmy Butler’s departure from the Miami Heat in February marked one of the most dramatic player exits in recent memory. The six-time All-Star forced his way out of South Beach, ultimately landing with the Golden State Warriors via trade. Shortly after, Butler signed a two-year, $112 million extension to stay with the franchise through the 2026-27 season. Along with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, he will form one of the league’s most experienced veteran cores. 

Butler’s split from the Heat not only reshaped Miami’s roster but also triggered a series of financial and roster decisions as the team pivoted toward a leaner payroll. That trend continued again on Friday following the latest Heat trade.

Draymond Green Blames Jimmy Butler For Heat Trade

On Friday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Heat traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round selection. The move is part of Miami’s effort to keep costs down while repositioning the team for the future after losing Butler, who had been central to their playoff runs in recent years.

Shortly after the news broke, Draymond Green reacted to the Highsmith trade by reposting Charania’s report on Instagram with the caption: “look what you’ve done Jimbo @jimmybutler.”

The post appeared to be in jest, but it also acknowledged the ripple effects of Butler’s departure from Miami. Green added more context in a post on threads.

"Y’all(internet experts) wanted Jimmy to come off the bench behind dude, and 5 months later The Heat traded him for a bag of chips. That’s wild," he wrote.

Butler and Highsmith were teammates for four years, and the latter’s trade is another sign of the franchise’s pivot since Butler’s exit. The deal helps Miami remain about $4 million under the luxury tax threshold and $9.5 million below the first apron hard cap. Brooklyn, meanwhile, used its remaining significant cap space to take on Highsmith. It has added two first-round picks this offseason, giving it the league’s largest stash of future first- and second-round selections.

Jimmy Butler Preparing for First Full Season With Warriors

Butler has already made an impact in Golden State, bolstering the Warriors’ defense and adding playoff experience alongside Curry and Green. His veteran presence contributed to a 23-7 finish last season that secured the team a playoff spot.

Now preparing for his first full season with the Warriors, Butler is expected to be both a defensive anchor and a secondary playmaker in a Western Conference that is even deeper than last year. For Golden State, his addition could be critical to extending its championship window and giving the franchise another shot at a deep postseason run.

Related: Steph Curry Sends Clear Message as Warriors Make 0 NBA Offseason Moves

Related: NBA Star Steph Curry Announces Personal News on Tuesday

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.