The Jimmy Butler trade saga is widely expected to run from now until the end of the trade deadline, as the Miami Heat figure out what to do with their franchise star for the last six seasons. Even though Butler requested a trade to ‘any’ team in the NBA, it seems certain destinations are being warned against a Butler acquisition due to his status as a free agent next summer.
Chris Haynes reported that the Memphis Grizzlies and other teams were told not to try and make a move for Butler.
“Leaked sources relayed to me that the Memphis Grizzlies, along with a few other teams have received word that Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has no interest in being traded there.”
Sources: A few teams have been informed not to trade for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. #haynesbriefs pic.twitter.com/200eV8gjxk
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2025
Kevin O’Connor would add to the report, mentioning the Milwaukee Bucks as a ruled-out destination.
“There’s been a lot of chirping in NBA circles about the future of Miami Heat veteran Jimmy Butler. On Tuesday morning, Chris Haynes reported on X that the Memphis Grizzlies and a few other teams received word that Butler has no interest in being there. One of those other teams? Sources told me the Milwaukee Bucks were also told to back off.”
Chris Mannix reported that teams like the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets are out of the running as well, thinning the field of teams who are legitimate contenders at landing Butler.
If Butler is controlling the level of interest from teams, it might be prudent to remember the initial list of teams he was linked with. That has likely expanded in recent weeks with new teams, but we can safely assume that the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns are destinations Butler wouldn’t object to.
It’s hard to envision the Mavericks or Rockets making a risky move for Butler, leaving the Warriors and Suns as his most credible future destinations. No team wants Butler as badly as the Suns do, but they need to figure out a Bradley Beal trade before they can even think of making a move for Butler.
The Suns are the only confirmed team who are willing to give Butler the max contract Miami has refused to, further piquing Jimmy’s interest in joining the franchise to be the third star next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
The Warriors don’t seem to be in the market for a major upgrade through trade, but they should be. They have been rumored as a potential Butler destination, with the franchise clearly needing a bonafide No. 2 star behind Stephen Curry.
Butler would be a great fit, but the cautious front office likely won’t engage in deep discussions for Butler given it causes them to lose multiple stars such as Andrew Wiggins and more.
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