Jimmy Butler’s camp has expressed his desire to the Miami Heat for them to negotiate the best possible deal for their franchise, reports Chris Haynes. Once a deal is in the “red zone” and close to completion, Butler’s camp is willing to engage in conversations about his future with any team Miami grants permission to speak with. As of now, no teams have reached out to the Heat requesting such permission.
Butler has reportedly preferred a trade to the Phoenix Suns. On Sunday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Butler communicated with the Golden State Warriors that he was unwilling to sign with the team long-term.
Butler is currently suspended by the Heat until at least after the trade deadline. Butler also has a $52 million player option for the 25-26 season, giving him some degree of leverage over the talks.