Jimmy Butler’s future with the Miami Heat appears uncertain at this point, and Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has a surprise new home in mind for him. Swartz suggested a trade that sends Butler to the Memphis Grizzlies.
“A deal based around Desmond Bane seems like the most likely outcome. Losing Butler hurts, although it gives the Heat a new 26-and-under core of Bane, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic to build around without worrying about an extension for Butler.
“Memphis would then move forward with Butler as a secondary scoring option to Morant and still have (Jaren) Jackson, Marcus Smart, GG Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard (team option), Vince Williams Jr. and others on the roster.”
This would be an interesting move for both teams. With Butler earning $48.8 million in 2024-25 and Bane’s salary being at $34 million, the Grizzlies would also have to add in some players in this deal.
Apart from the stars, Swartz has them also not including key role players such as GG Jackson, Brandon Clarke, and Vince Williams Jr. in the deal. So the likes of Santi Aldama, John Konchar, and Zhaire Williams might have to be part of it to match the salaries.
I am not sure how interested the Heat would be in those assets, but with this deal, they do get a franchise cornerstone that is more in line from an age standpoint with the rest of their core.
Bane averaged 23.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in the 2023-24 campaign for the Grizzlies. The 25-year-old looks set to be one of the best shooting guards in the NBA in the coming years and could form quite the duo with Adebayo.
The question, though, would be are they good enough to lead the Heat to a title? I have some doubts about that.
As for the Grizzlies, they get a proven postseason performer in Butler in what would be a win-now move. The 34-year-old averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for the Heat in 2023-24.
Butler’s real value shows up in the playoffs, of course, and in his last two postseason runs, he has averaged 27.1 points per game. It would be a gamble for the Grizzlies to part with the younger Bane for an older star who wants a big new contract, but they could potentially be rewarded for it with a championship.
A core of Butler, Ja Morant, and Jaren Jackson Jr. would be formidable and my only real concern with their potential starting lineup would be the lack of shooting. Someone like Kennard would have to start over Smart, or they would just have to make some additional moves with this.
I think this trade does help both parties in certain ways, but as for how likely it is to happen, I would say not very. I don’t think the Grizzlies would want to part with Bane and they would be backing their core with him to eventually one day get over the line.
NBA Executives Think The Heat Are Ready To Trade Jimmy Butler
When reports first surfaced about Butler potentially being on his way out from the Heat, I dismissed them. It seemed unlikely with how successful his time there had been, but it seems an exit might well be on the cards. According to NBA insider Howard Beck, rival executives believe the Heat are ready to trade Butler.
“Rival executives have been buzzing about it for months, for all the obvious reasons. Butler is about to turn 35 with one year left on his Heat contract and is reportedly seeking a two-year, $113 million extension. If the Heat grant it, they’ll have little to no flexibility to add another star. And they absolutely need one,” wrote Beck. “Butler at this stage would be much more valuable as a second or third option on a contender than as the top dog in Miami. This feels like the right time for a pivot… Pat Riley is known for moving off his high-priced players before they fall off a cliff.”
Butler’s trade value is only going to go down from here on out, so it would make sense for the Heat to part with him. Pat Riley would only make that move if he can get a good piece in return, though, so I would be interested to see what kind of deal he can pull off.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
