Amid a major breakup for the Miami Heat, teams across the league have been scrambling to join the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes. No trade is imminent before February’s deadline, but several teams have already made an offer according to Shams Charania.
“The Heat have engaged with multiple teams on Butler trade scenarios and have received offers but have been hesitant to negotiate further,” wrote Shams on ESPN. “Riley has not shown an urgency in these talks, as the trade deadline looms on Feb. 6, sources added.”
Butler, 35, joined the Heat back in 2019 after less than a full season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was an All-Star in his first season with the team and even led them to the NBA Finals for a matchup against the Lakers. Over the past six years, Butler has been the face of ‘Heat Culture’ and the engine behind some of their most recent successes.
But after a failed playoff run last summer, and some choice words from Heat President Pat Riley, the Heat decided not to extend Butler’s contract and it started the beginning of the end of their relationship.
Just 22 games into this season, and Butler is suspended due to conduct “detrimental to the team” and his name is now at the top of trade rumors. Now that Butler has told Riley his demands in person, the Heat can operate without a doubt about finding a new home for their disgruntled star.
As a 6x All-Star and elite two-way athlete, Butler is the kind of player who can elevate any roster that he joins and it’s no surprise that some teams have already made an offer. Specifically, the Phoenix Suns are known to have a strong desire for Butler, with one report claiming that they wanted him “bad.”
Besides the Suns and maybe the Lakers, we don’t know what other teams may be in for Butler but we do know that none of the offers have been good enough get generate any kind of traction. By all accounts, Pat Riley is unimpressed with the offers so far and he’s content to wait things out until something better comes his way.
This season, Butler (35) is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 55.2% shooting. He’s been mediocre all season for a Heat team that’s ranked 7th in the East at 20-18.
With one year, and $52.4 million left on his deal (player option), Butler can opt to leave the Heat this summer if he opts out and decides to become a free agent. At that point, he’ll be able to sign with whichever team has the room for him.
It’s only a matter of time now before Jimmy Butler ends up on a new team but the hope is that the Heat can find a trade for him that benefits both sides. With multiple trade partners in pursuit, the negotiations have already begun and now the ball is in Pat Riley’s court to determine what happens next.
The next game for the Heat is tomorrow, January 15th, against the Lakers at 10:00 PM EST at the Crypto.com arena. Next, the Heat face the Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center (8:00 PM EST) before a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, January 19th, at 3:00 PM EST.
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