Let’s dive into probability and poetry, Dub Nation. The Warriors (26-26) head to Milwaukee to take on a struggling Bucks squad (27-23), armed with their latest game-changing weapon. The stats are starting to tell an intriguing story.

When it comes to Jimmy Butler and the Milwaukee Bucks, their history feels like Omar strolling through the streets in The Wire—spreading fear the moment he appears. In the 2023 playoffs, Butler didn’t just defeat the Bucks; he took apart the top seed with a level of precision and cold-blooded execution reminiscent of a heist film, where the mastermind calmly lays out the plan while dressed in an impeccably tailored suit.

Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks
When: February 10th, 2024 | 5:00 PM PT
TV: NBC Sports
Radio: 95.7 The Game

Remember that series? Butler torched Milwaukee with a staggering 37.6 points per game—a number so absurd you almost have to double-check to make sure it’s not a typo. He didn’t just break down the Bucks’ defense; he turned it into his personal playground before sending them packing from the playoffs. That wasn’t just scoring—it was artistry, laced with a bit of psychological warfare.

But here’s the nightmare scenario for Milwaukee: that was Butler operating within Miami’s system. Now? He’s got the greatest shooter of all time bending defensive schemes like a basketball black hole. The Warriors aren’t just adding Butler’s proven ability to dismantle the Bucks—they’re bringing a completely retooled offense that just hung 132 points on Chicago.

Milwaukee has long struggled with drop coverage against elite guards, and now Butler gets to exploit that with Steph Curry’s gravitational pull. As Butler himself put it: “They’re not leaving him ever. I get to play 1-on-1 or in space.” That’s the equivalent of handing a master safecracker the building’s blueprints and telling the security team to go grab lunch.

In their first game together, the Butler-Curry duo exploded for 59 points, orchestrating a jaw-dropping 45-point swing that had the Bulls rethinking everything. Their on-court chemistry was instant, their impact undeniable.

Here’s a look at their combined shot chart, where they went 17-of-31 from the field:

What we witnessed in Chicago was a Warriors squad that finally had a counterpunch to complement Steph’s knockout blows. When defenses swarm Curry—who casually dropped 24 points in a single quarter against the Bulls—they’re now faced with Butler relentlessly attacking the rim. It’s like choosing between a tooth extraction and a root canal—either way, it’s going to hurt.

The timing couldn’t be better for Golden State to take on Milwaukee, a team currently fumbling through solutions like they’re trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark. The Bucks have dropped six of their last ten and are now pinning their hopes on Kyle Kuzma, who’s struggling through a career-worst 28.6% from three and just 60% from the free-throw line.

Milwaukee will counter with their own superstar duo in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but they’re still figuring out how to operate without Khris Middleton. Meanwhile, the Warriors just flipped a 24-point deficit into a 21-point victory—and their new lineup barely knows each other’s coffee orders yet.

Somewhere on Monday night, Pat Riley might be watching through clenched teeth, realizing that letting Butler go was a mistake roughly the size of Wisconsin itself.

The Jimmy Butler Revenge Tour rolls on. Milwaukee is just another stop—but something tells me this one’s been circled in red.

Armel Traore’s stint with the Lakers has officially ended—for now. The 22-year-old rookie played in just nine games for L.A., averaging 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 31.6%. Despite showing glimpses of potential, the Lakers decided to waive him on Friday, freeing up a two-way roster spot.

Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times reported the news, noting that if Traore clears waivers, the Lakers are interested in keeping him with their G League affiliate.

“The Lakers have signed G Jordan Goodwin to a two-way deal and waived F Armel Traore. Lakers like Traore and would have interest in keeping him in the building with their G-League team if he clears waivers. Lakers have need for G depth after Christie/Reddish/Knecht trades.”

It’s a logical move considering the Lakers’ recent roster changes. With Max Christie, Cam Reddish, and Dalton Knecht traded, the backcourt depth took a hit, making a two-way deal for Goodwin—an energetic defensive guard—a smart addition.

Traore’s Future Remains Unclear

Although his NBA minutes were limited, Traore performed well in the G League, averaging 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on 51.3% shooting over eight games.

Standing 6-foot-9 with a developing perimeter game (34.4% from three), he remains an intriguing prospect—one that at least one draft analyst sees as worth a serious look. Rich Stayman of No Ceilings shared his thoughts on Traore’s potential:

“Someone with lottery intentions should swoop up Armel Traore. I liked him a lot last summer.”

That might be a bit of a stretch—Traore is still raw and unlikely to crack an NBA rotation anytime soon—but it highlights the potential he brings. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, the Lakers would be more than happy to keep him in South Bay for further development.

For now, his future remains uncertain. The Lakers prioritized backcourt depth over another developmental forward, which is simply the nature of the business.

Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard reacts to Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Lakers-Mavs trade

Kawhi Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers made a few moves at the NBA trade deadline, but none as significant as their crosstown rivals, the Lakers, who landed Luka Dončić in exchange for Anthony Davis.

With Dončić now in Los Angeles, the Lakers are viewed as legitimate championship contenders despite parting ways with Davis and Max Christie.

Meanwhile, the Clippers reshaped their roster by trading away five players while bringing in four new additions. They sent Mo Bamba and P.J. Tucker to the Utah Jazz for Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills. In a separate deal, they moved Terance Mann and Bones Hyland to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a package for scoring guard Bogdan Bogdanović. Their final move saw Kevin Porter Jr. traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for MarJon Beauchamp.

Despite these changes, the spotlight has remained on the blockbuster swap between the Lakers and Mavericks, with Dončić’s move to Los Angeles sending shockwaves across the league. After a recent Clippers game, Kawhi Leonard shared his thoughts on the Lakers’ acquisition of Dončić.

“I think it’s surprising, like everybody else said,” Kawhi Leonard said. “But we have to see how they look. We haven’t been able to see them play with those teams yet, and so we’ll have to figure that out once we see Luka playing with the Lakers and AD playing with the Mavericks.”

Luka Dončić has yet to make his highly anticipated debut for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the superstar guard is expected to suit up for the first time on Monday night against the Utah Jazz.

Before the trade, Dončić was putting up stellar numbers for the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in 22 appearances this season.

However, questions remain about how he will fit into the Lakers’ system, especially after the team’s attempt to acquire a premier center fell through. General Manager Rob Pelinka had discussions with Dončić about optimizing his playing style and subsequently made a move for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams.

That trade, however, was rescinded due to medical concerns involving Williams. As a result, Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish will remain with the Lakers, while Williams returns to Charlotte.

More often than not, a shift in team mentality is what leads to dramatic comeback victories.

Saturday was no exception as the Warriors overcame a 24-point gap in the third quarter, securing a 132-111 win against the Chicago Bulls at United Center.

Jimmy Butler, who contributed 25 points and four assists in his first game for the Warriors, shed light on the team’s successful second-half approach.

“Get some stops,” Butler told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli on “Warriors Postgame Live.”

“We all know whenever we can guard, get into the open floor [that] we’re definitely going to score enough points. We’re going to make enough shots. We just got to guard without fouling.”

Trailing 83-59 with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter against Chicago, the Warriors were in desperate need of solutions on both offense and defense.

Jimmy Butler, alongside Draymond Green, spearheaded the defensive effort, while Steph Curry delivered an unforgettable performance, scoring 22 points in the last eight-plus minutes of the quarter.

The 36-year-old guard ended the game with 34 points, shooting 10-of-19 from the field and 8-of-16 from three-point range. The Warriors outscored the Bulls 73-28 in the final 20-plus minutes of play.

Butler, who started for Golden State without any minute restrictions, brought a fresh level of energy to coach Steve Kerr’s strategies.

Although it’s just one game, the mindset displayed on Saturday suggests that the Warriors could become a formidable and resilient team.

What Are Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry Saying About First Win After Trade?

The Golden State Warriors seized the moment at the NBA trade deadline, making a decisive move by acquiring Jimmy Butler to boost their immediate chances.

Butler showcased his skills in his debut for the Warriors on Saturday night, contributing 25 points with an impressive shooting performance, hitting 7 of 12 shots and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line.

The Warriors rallied from being down by 14 at halftime to defeat the Chicago Bulls 132-111. Stephen Curry, playing alongside his new teammate Butler for the first time, excelled, tallying 34 points, four rebounds, and six assists, including eight successful three-pointers.

“He’s like the exact opposite player of me which is kind of funny. I shot 16 three’s, he shot 1, he got to the line a lot, he’s dominating the paint, I’m dominating the outside, guys working around us, it has the potential to be really fun.” Curry said in the post-game press conference of Butler.. And Jimmy saw it the same way.

“They say opposites attract in life. I don’t think I could be a better complement to him and vice versa. They’re (the defense) not leaving him ever, probably two people. There’s so much space with everyone else, I get the easy job. It’s so great playing with someone like that.” Butler said in response to his new running-mate’s comments.

“You talk about killer. You talk about a lion that’s going for the kill every time. That’s who he is. I’m ready to be his teammate and ride along side him.” Butler told reporters.

The lion analogy wasn’t just about Butler. After the game, when head coach Steve Kerr was questioned about Butler, he responded with an answer that felt strikingly familiar.

“He’s a lion out there. He’s a force.” Kerr said.

Kerr continued, “It’s the swagger that he gives us. He gives confidence to the rest of the group including Steph and Draymond (Green) and that’s important.”

The combination of Butler, Curry, Green, and Kerr is set to steer the Warriors’ performance for the rest of the season. Saturday’s victory pushed the Warriors’ record back to an even .500 at 26-26. Currently on a seven-game road trip, they have four games left to play. Their next matchup is against the Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee on Monday.