Many were skeptical of the Golden State Warriors handing Jimmy Butler a two-year, $110 million extension upon his blockbuster arrival in February, yet part of the move was to avoid what could have been a very awkward alternative.
The Warriors made all the headlines this offseason for the elongated Jonathan Kuminga drama, but just imagine how much worse it could have been had they also had to deal with Butler as well. Without the extension the 6x All-Star would have entered unrestricted free agency, perhaps making for a messy scenario for both parties that might have ended with Butler leaving after a matter of months with the franchise.