You’d be hard-pressed to find two NBA teams with bigger gulfs in motivation right now. And Jimmy Butler could have easily ended up on either team at this trade deadline.
Both the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors were hovering around .500 at the deadline. For weeks, Butler was heavily rumored to be a target for the flailing Suns. The Warriors, meanwhile, swooped in to acquire Butler, and things haven’t been the same for either team.
Since acquiring Butler, Golden State has gone 21-5 and find themselves in the thick of the race for a home court first-round series. Meanwhile, the Suns are 10-18 and in need of a miracle just to make the play-in tournament. Who would have known the consequences of giving a trade veto to Bradley Beal? Now, these two teams face off with Golden State desperate to close the year strong as Phoenix limps to the finish line.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Golden State is a 10-point road favorite for this matchup. Let’s dig into the best Butler props for this contest.
Best Jimmy Butler Prop Bets
Jimmy Butler under 28.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts (-120)
But wait, aren’t these Suns terrible? And the Warriors motivated? Why are you going against Butler?
Maybe, MAYBE he comes out with demonic energy against a team that nearly acquired him. He has strange motivations. More realistically, he will follow his recent trend of staying in the shadows until the team needs him in the clutch.
If that pattern holds, Butler may hardly be needed at all. These Suns have lost six games in a row, all by double digits, and Kevin Durant has missed the past three. The former Warriors superstar will remain out tonight for a fourth straight contest. Sitting 2.5 games back of the 10th-seed Mavericks, a loss tonight spells doom for Mat Ishbia’s team.
You’d think that would be motivating, but it seems like all involved just want to go home. Durant wants a trade. Ishbia wants to fire another coach. Beal wants to sit on a beach somewhere. If these Warriors hit them in the mouth early, the Suns will collapse like a house of cards, and Butler will be able to save his energy for another night.
