This offseason, the Brooklyn Nets are projected to have more than twice as much cap space ($91.8m) as the next team. With the primary motivation for Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler seeming to be securing a max contract, this makes them a viable option for the six-time All-Star if he declines his 2025-26 player option and becomes a free agent.
Well, at least it would, if the Nets actually wanted to sign him.
“Butler needn’t expect the Nets to be a suitor for his services if he goes through with plans to bypass his $52.4 player option with Miami for next season to become a free agent,” writes The Stein Line insider Marc Stein. “League sources reiterated to The Stein Line this week that the Nets have no plans to pursue to Butler in free agency.”
Jimmy Butler To Nets Has Gone Cold
Based on Stein’s report, Butler’s biggest leverage play has hit the canvas like Andre The Giant.
To be honest, it was always a long-shot for the 35-year-old given that the Nets have committed to the rebuilding process. Gone are the days that Nets owner Joe Tsai is looking for the quickest shortcut to success. The era that led Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden to Brooklyn was riveting but unsuccessful for myriad reasons. The cost of putting underachieving teams on the floor could also factor in the Nets changing directions and that has direct implications on Butler’s future.
Why would they pay Butler top dollar if they don’t expect him to lead them to an NBA championship? How could they expect Butler to deliver a title when he has never done so before? When the roster that’s around him isn’t currently suited for a long playoff run?
He’s Not For Everyone
Then there’s Butler’s antics, which have rubbed both teammates and executives the wrong way. He has a mentality that’s reminiscent of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant but not their success or enduring popularity. So the behaviors that may have been tolerated or even praised by the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers are the ones that led to him wearing out his welcome with teams like the Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.
If his energy is channeled correctly, Butler definitely brings a lot to the table, on and off the court. Still, his volatile personality makes him a risky acquisition. If an organization doesn’t have the right personalities or infrastructure, they might just be better off without him.
This is why franchises like the Golden State Warriors make sense as a future destination. A title-contender, they’ve dealt with Draymond Green‘s mayhem for years. Similarly, the Phoenix Suns have legitimate championship aspirations. Though Durant has notoriously thin skin, he’s ultra-competitive, so they may be able to handle Butler as well.
Conversely, just based on how they reacted to Irving’s melodrama, Brooklyn isn’t suited for such a headstrong player.
He Still Has Options
All of that being said, Butler could still leave the Heat in free agency. Multiple contenders showed a willingness to complete sign-and-trades involving star players last summer.
The Warriors, projected to be $900k under the cap this offseason, were among those teams. Ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, their focus is reportedly on landing a big man. Nonetheless, depending how the rest of their 2024-25 campaign shakes out, trading for Butler could look particularly appealing.
The Houston Rockets don’t seem keen on trading one of their key young players. However, they’re projected to have $19.3 million in cap space this offseason. If they’re willing to part with a veteran like Dillon Brooks, Butler may be all theirs.
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