With Jimmy Butler‘s recent trade demand, there is a great deal of speculation about which team will trade for him. It appears that one team specifically is ready to make a move for him and keep him long-term. Marc Stein is reporting that Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is not only leading other NBA teams in willingness to make a trade for Butler but is willing to pay him to keep him on the team long-term.
“Phoenix is widely regarded as the team most interested in trading for Butler and definitely makes sense as a Butler destination from at least one perspective. Suns owner Mat Ishbia is believed to be as willing to sign the 35-year-old to a lucrative new contract as anyone you’ll find.”
“However, the Suns will need to find a third party willing to absorb Beal’s financial burden to facilitate any potential trade for Butler, in addition to Beal’s acceptance of waiving his no-trade clause.”
Of course, as Stein mentions, the biggest caveat regarding any move for Butler is the situation surrounding Bradley Beal. Beal currently makes $50.2 million, which means he would have to go in any major trade. What complicates matters here is that Beal has a no-trade clause, which he would have to waive in order to complete any deal.
Beal can essentially determine the Suns’ future, as no deal can be completed without his blessing. Furthermore, even if they get Beal to agree to waive his no-trade clause, they will have to find a third team willing to absorb his massive salary, as the Heat have no interest in Beal as a return for Butler.
While the Suns might be the team most interested in landing Jimmy Butler, they have a lot going against them to get this deal done.
Will Jimmy Butler End Up In Phoenix?
With all that said, will the Phoenix Suns be able to land Jimmy Butler? Given the aforementioned caveats and obstacles in place to complete any sort of deal, it doesn’t look likely. But stranger things have happened in the NBA, and if there is a will to complete a deal, they will find a way to make it happen.
The biggest concern for the Miami Heat right now is getting a decent package in return for Jimmy Butler. However, several NBA sources believe that the Heat could decide not to play ball and hold on to Jimmy Butler until the end of the season. But given that they risk losing Jimmy for free this summer, it behooves them to trade him before the February 6th deadline.
The Heat are reportedly looking to get rid of Butler as soon as possible. They recently suspended him for seven games for what they called ‘conduct detrimental to the team’. This suspension is set to cost the former All-Star over $2 million in salary, as the Heat will use this time to land the best offer for him.
We pitched a hypothetical Jimmy Butler-Bradley Beal swap between the Suns and the Heat a few weeks ago, which you can check out here.
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