Jimmy Butler said he's "happy to be playing basketball again" in his introductory press conference with the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. He was emphatic about his singular focus of winning a championship while downplaying the idea that the Warriors were not his preferred destination after all reporting had indicated Butler preferred joining the Phoenix Suns as he angled for an exit from the Miami Heat.

Jimmy Butler wasted no time sharing some lofty expectations for his new team. Butler arrived in California on Thursday just one day after being traded to the Warriors, where he told fans that an NBA Finals is on the horizon.

The departure of Wiggins in particular hit hard within the locker room walls. A hero in the 2022 title run, Wiggins, still only 29, reached his career peak as a Warrior. He made an All-Star team, stretched the limits of his game and rose to the occasion in the NBA Finals.