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It has not been a great offseason for the Golden State Warriors, but not all news has been bad as they prepare for their annual team training camp. On the injury front, veteran swingman Jimmy Butler is showing signs of progress that suggest a somewhat imminent return. On Wednesday, NBA insider Brett Sigel dropped the latest update, revealing positive news on Butler’s recovery. As it stands, he’s described as “very likely” to return before the deadline, adding an interesting element to the upcoming season. “If Butler can get back on the floor before the trade deadline, which appears very likely at the moment, this organization will be able to figure out its plan heading into the trade madness and what its playoff outlook is. At the same time, when Butler returns is still a question mark,” reported Siegel. “Butler has not had any setbacks or limitations to this point in his recovery process. There have been minor hints that he is ahead of schedule and could return to the court sooner than many would’ve initially expected.” The Warriors desperately need a boost right now, and Butler can provide in more ways than one. Between aging stars (including Steph Curry and Draymond Green) and rising competition, the Warriors have been left in the dust in recent years, going from a dynasty to an afterthought in the West. It’s gotten to the point where even the players themselves no longer believe in their status as a contender. Nevertheless, with Curry set to ink a new extension, the Warriors are committed to winning now and making one last run with this iconic core. As much as Kristaps Porzingis and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg are eager to contribute, they will need Jimmy Butler to stand any chance for the 2026-27 season. The 15-year veteran hasn’t played since tearing his ACL in January, just 38 games into the season. It came at the worst possible time for the Warriors, who effectively collapsed without their starting small forward. Once the season was finally over, the Warriors set to work on planning out the future, while Butler continued his off-court rehab work. It hasn’t been an easy process, but Butler has made the most of it. Over the past few months, he’s followed a strict diet and workout regimen to regain strength and mobility in his lower body. While the work is far from done, it seems his return may come sooner than anyone predicted, and it could change everything for the Warriors. When healthy, Butler is easily one of the most impactful players in the league at his position. In 38 games last season, he averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game on 51.9% shooting from the field. As a stellar defender and experienced veteran, he brings a lot to the table, and his mere presence on the floor raises the Warriors’ ceiling. If he comes back even half of what he was in his prime, it would certainly put the Warriors in a better position to keep up with the steep competition.