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.

The Heat dealt Butler to the Warriors as part of a big five-team deal ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. In return, the Heat acquired Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick from the Warriors, and Davion Mitchell from the Toronto Raptors.