Since the end of last season, many wondered if the Miami Heat were going to trade star Jimmy Butler. This idea became increasingly prominent to begin the current season due to numerous reports. Previously, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Butler, who has a player option for the 2025-26 season, will likely opt out of his current deal and become a free agent next summer. Furthermore, Charania named a handful of teams who have interest in acquiring Butler. This included the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks. For the first time since joining the Heat in 2019, it seemed inevitable that the Marquette alum would find himself on a new roster this season. However, according to recent reports, a Butler trade no longer seems as likely.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (subscription required), the Heat are now more likely to keep Butler rostered past February’s trade deadline.
As for Butler’s future, there is a growing consensus among the teams I talked to that unless the six-time All-Star becomes a distraction, or the Heat receive a trade offer they cannot turn down, Butler will be on the Heat’s roster once the deadline passes.
“Miami has to do what is best for them, not what is in the best interest for Butler,” a Western Conference executive told ESPN in Orlando.
Newest Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors Will Please Heat Fans
NBA Insider Suggests Only One Team Is Real Suitor for Jimmy Butler
Despite Butler being linked to multiple teams around the league, NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required) suggests that there is only one team that can legitimately obtain him and keep him around for the long haul–the Brooklyn Nets.
“Only Brooklyn is currently on course to have the sort of salary cap space required to sign Butler outright in the summer,” Stein said, “and few are projecting the Nets — who just shipped Dennis Schröder to Golden State and are expected to soon shed additional veterans with the hope of improving their draft prospects in June — to mount a free agent run at a thirtysomething. Butler, six times an All-Star, turned 35 in September.
A Butler-Brooklyn pairing is questionable. Butler is 35 years old and is best suited for a team contending for a championship this season. The Nets are 11-17 and own the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference. Though the East is weaker than the West, even with Butler, Brooklyn is not a legitimate contender. Still, Stein’s report is interesting nonetheless.
The Last Word
Now in his sixth season in Miami, Butler has accomplished a lot with the Heat organization. He has led them to two NBA Finals and was an MVP candidate for multiple seasons. Through 20 games this season, the Heat star is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.3 steals. Additionally, he is shooting 55.2% from the field and 25.7% from beyond the arc. Though his scoring is down from the past few years, there id no denying that Butler still plays a major role in Miami.
From now until February, Butler’s name will be one to monitor in the rumor mill.
The post Newest Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors Will Please Heat Fans appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.