The Miami Heat have become “cautiously optimistic” of their chances of trading Jimmy Butler by the Feb. 6 trade deadline and are engaged with several teams beyond the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have struggled to facilitate a workable trade for Butler.
Miami has a number of incentives to resolve the Butler situation by the deadline rather than in the offseason when he could exercise his $52.4 million player option.
The Heat have felt they should receive an extra incentive if they take back any players on contracts that run through the 25-26 season. Miami has maintained that taking back salary that goes into 26-27 is a non-starter unless it is for an All-Star.
The Heat are positioned to have more than $80 million in cap space for 2026 when several All-Stars could become free agents. While most superstars no longer reach outright free agency in an era with more extensions, the Heat would like to possess the capacity to acquire one who wants to change team either via free agency or trade.