On Tuesday, ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Miami Heat are open to trading Jimmy Butler, with the star interested in going to the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, or the Golden State Warriors. It appears there is now another team he’d be open to going to, the Phoenix Suns. Charania stated on NBA Countdown that the Suns are a team to keep an eye on in the Butler sweepstakes.
“Jimmy Butler’s agent has indicated in league circles that he would be open to the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, two of the Texas teams, and Golden State Warriors in a potential trade as the Heat are listening to offers. But another team that Butler’s agent Bernie Lee has indicated recently that Butler is open to – the Phoenix Suns, sources told me today.
“And you think about what Jimmy Butler wants,” Charania continued. “A win-now, contending situation. There’s been no other win-now team more than these Phoenix Suns. You think about their salary cap bill. What they’ve done with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, going all in. So, keep a very close eye on the Phoenix Suns.”
There is indeed no win-now team quite like the Suns. New owner Mat Ishbia has shown he’s willing to go all-in to win the franchise that elusive first championship and Butler would certainly help get closer to achieving that goal.
Butler is averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Heat in 2024-25. The 35-year-old, who has a $50.4 million player option for next season, is shooting a career-best 55.7% from the field and remains incredibly effective on the court. A move to the Suns would certainly get the six-time All-Star closer to winning his first title too, but it isn’t quite clear if he wants the move.
Butler was rather coy when asked about his uncertain future with the Heat. His agent Bernard Lee, meanwhile, stated Charania had fabricated all this.
Whether there is any truth to this or not, the Suns could land Butler this season, although it will be a bit difficult for them to do so. They and the Heat are both tax apron teams which complicates matters.
Bradley Beal would almost certainly be the player the Suns would have to part with for Butler, but a straight swap isn’t possible because of their salaries. Beal is making $50.2 million this season while Butler is at $48.8 million and while a straight would be possible in normal circumstances, that’s not the case here.
The Heat being an apron team ensures they can’t take in more salary in a trade. They’d have to attach a veteran minimum player in this deal as well to get the math to work. So, the Heat and the Suns can make a Butler trade this season, but it seems more likely they’d do it in the offseason.
Suns Insider Reports The Team Has No Interest In Jimmy Butler
Charania reported that Butler was interested in going to the Suns, but it would appear the team isn’t interested in him. According to team insider Gerald Bourguet, they aren’t pursuing a trade for the Heat star.
“Per a source, the Suns aren’t pursuing a Jimmy Butler trade. Aside from the obvious difficulties with both the Suns and the Heat being tax apron teams that I already pointed out, Phoenix believes in their Big 3 and what they’ve seen from this group (11-2) when healthy.”
The Suns find themselves down at 10th in the West with a 12-11 record but they are 11-2 when their big guns are healthy. You’d understand them wanting to give this trio another year to see what they’re truly capable of. If this 2024-25 season ends in disappointment as well, the Suns would perhaps then look at Butler, if he hasn’t ended up elsewhere by then.
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