Jimmy Butler's Availability For Warriors-Lakers In Question After Injury Update
The Golden State Warriors will begin their first of five preseason games this Sunday, as they'll face off against the Los Angeles Lakers at home at 8:30 p.m. EST. Golden State just recently signed the remaining open roster spots this past week, following Jonathan Kuminga coming to terms on a two-year, $48.5 million deal.
Looking at Golden State's roster for Sunday's preseason game, head coach Steve Kerr shared earlier this week that the expectation is to play Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green around 15 minutes each to get them up to speed. However, a recent injury update on Butler has his status in question for the marquee matchup.
Speaking to reporters after practice, it was revealed that Butler did not participate in practice the last two days, after rolling his ankle earlier in the week. According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson, Steve Kerr is listing him as a "question mark" to play in the preseason opener on Sunday.
Lakers star Luka Doncic has already been ruled out of the contest, as the team looks to rest him after his stellar run at EuroBasket 2025, where he led the tournament in scoring average. LeBron James was held out of Friday's preseason contest for the Lakers, but no announcement has been made on his status for Sunday's contest.
Looking at Butler, his status will be interesting to monitor throughout the preseason, especially if he is ruled out of multiple games in their five-game schedule. While suspensions did also play a part in him only playing 55 games last season, Butler hasn't appeared in 70 or more games since his final season with the Chicago Bulls.
At 36 years old, Golden State can't afford to have Butler battle injuries throughout the season into the postseason, especially since the recovery process could be longer than his earlier years. While the Warriors improved their depth this offseason, the reality is they can't afford to lose Butler, Curry, or Green for an extended period of time.
Butler's status will be one to monitor in the lead up to Sunday's game, but with the preseason not counting toward the win-loss column and LeBron James potentially sitting out the game as well, Golden State should look to air on the side of caution with their star player, and they prepare for a competitive battle in the Western Conference throughout the 82-game schedule.
Steelers could eye intriguing trade replacement for Calvin Austin III
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Steelers' receiver Calvin Austin III could miss several games due to a shoulder injury. He was reported to have left the stadium in Ireland to potentially get X-rays on his injured shoulder. If he has bad news from those possible X-rays, he could be out for a while.
The Steelers cannot afford to lose him for long.
For one reason or another, Roman Wilson has failed to get many targets heading into the Steelers' bye week. He has been targeted only twice over four games. He had a monster preseason, and many thought Wilson would garner plenty of chances to show his worth. A potential absence from Austin could get the second-year receiver a shot, but he appears to be in the doghouse.
If the coaches fail to give Wilson a realistic shot, they could rely on Scotty Miller to hold down the fort. Their best course of action, especially if Austin is out long-term, would be to search for an upgrade in the trade market. They could potentially attack a weaker team's roster in search of a potential solution.
The Carolina Panthers, in particular, have a player who could really use a change of scenery after a slow start to his career.
Pittsburgh Steelers could trade for Xavier Legette to replace injured Calvin Austin III
It's unknown if Carolina would be willing to part with Xavier Legetter so soon, but it's worth giving a call. He shouldn't cost too much to get in a deal, but those parameters would be laid out in negotiations. Legette hasn't produced top receiver numbers during his time with the Panthers, but that's not what the Steelers need. They only need him to be a reliable second option for them.
Injury is another issue surrounding the former first-round pick right now, as he tries to work his way back from a hamstring issue. If his health checks out, the Steelers could make some trade inquiries. He hasn't been great in Carolina, but that franchise continues to struggle.
The second-year receiver has the moxy you like to see in a potential top playmaker for an NFL offense, but he needs to translate that onto the field in terms of production.
Pittsburgh showed plenty of pre-draft interest in Xavier Legette when he entered the process in 2024. They were unable to select him in the first round since they went in a different direction, but the young receiver should remain on their radar. The Panthers selected him with hopes he could become their top playmaker on offense, but he has struggled to hang onto stardom this season.
Austin's potential absence due to injury could be a massive problem for Pittsburgh. They cannot rely on Miller to be their top replacement, and it seems like they aren't comfortable with Wilson. Acquiring Legette in a potential trade would bring in a player who needs a fresh start and can become a top receiver in the league. They're familiar with him from the draft process.
