ESPN’s Tuesday report stating that the Heat are open to offers on Jimmy Butler and might make a deal if the price is right has resulted in plenty of chatter among NBA fans and observers, but head coach Erik Spoelstra and Butler have since downplayed the report in comments to the media.
As Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel relays, Spoelstra told reporters on Tuesday that he “didn’t mention anything” about ESPN’s story to his team. The Heat coach also pointed out that trade rumors surrounding another Heat player – Tyler Herro – in recent years haven’t amounted to anything and added that the team has been playing some of its best basketball as of late.
“I think the biggest message is that fact that we’re 3-0 right now, this past week, and the player that was rumored in so many trades and speculations the last three years — it seemed like every week — that player is still here and is Player of the Week,” Spoelstra said. “So that’s really the only thing I’m thinking about. … Anything else, any other narrative, I don’t care. Nobody should, because most of this stuff has just been all like a bunch of gibberish.”
Butler wasn’t available to reporters on Tuesday, but addressed the rumors on Wednesday following the Heat’s practice at Kaseya Center, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Butler said the trade speculation “doesn’t bother me one bit” — in fact, he appreciates it.
“I actually like it,” Butler said. “It’s good to be talked about. I don’t think there’s such a thing as bad publicity to a point. But if somebody is talking about me getting traded, that’s a lot.”
Here’s more on Butler and the Heat:
- Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald provide some additional context on the report about Butler’s availability, writing that the star forward hasn’t asked for a trade and the Heat aren’t shopping him — they’re just willing to listen. According to Chiang and Jackson, due to the lack of contenders with projected 2025 cap room, the Heat aren’t all that concerned about the possibility of losing Butler in free agency next summer if he remains in Miami for the rest of the season.
- While there have been reports in recent months indicating that Butler has stayed committed to the Heat, he didn’t offer a concrete answer on Wednesday when asked if he still hopes to stick with the club for the rest of this career, Chiang notes. “I don’t know,” Butler said. “I’m pretty sure y’all are going to get a report that’s going to say otherwise anyways. So there’s no sense in me answering that question.”
- Columnist Greg Cote of The Miami Herald lays out the case for why the Heat should move on from Butler this season if they get a solid offer for him.
- It has been Herro, not Butler, who has been the Heat’s leading scorer so far this season, putting up a career-high 24.2 points per game with an impressive .477/.422/.872 shooting line. As Chiang writes in another story for The Miami Herald, Herro is starting to generate some All-Star buzz and said he’d “love” to be selected for the game. “That’s been my goal since I came into the league,” Herro said. “We’ll see. I got to get votes. I’m definitely worthy though.”
- Heat guard Josh Richardson received an injection in his heel and will be sidelined for the next week, tweets Winderman. Richardson hasn’t seen any action since November 18 — he has been listed as available for the majority of Miami’s past nine games, but has continually showed up on the injury report due to right heel soreness and irritation.
Minnesota has the chance to do one of the funniest things in NBA history
Yes xD
I think this might work in 4 days. Butler, Ware and Christopher for Dillingham, Randle, Reid. The Wolves can’t aggregate and can’t take on more salary while the Heat can’t take care on more salary but it’s $130,000 difference which I believe is allowed. Josh Christopher wouldn’t be able to be traded until Dec 15th.
Wolves have no money to pay Butler max
Butler might be in for a rude awakening when he realizes that perhaps no one will give him a max.
Taco, agreed he won’t get nearly the max, but Butler and Miami are both (already) certain that Butler is worth much less than that.
The national media is ignoring what everybody following the Heat knows: Butler currently has a player option for 2025-26 at $52M. No team, including Miami, will pay $52M to a 36 year old who can’t stay healthy for 1/2 his games, much less be available for the playoffs — especially in the year of the Embiid, Kahwi, and Williamson bloodbaths. (And no team, will pay a broken-down 36 yr old that for 5 years.)
Last summer Miami reportedly tried to extend Butler for 2-3 years beyond 2025-26 at a much lower annual number, but Butler and his camp knew the threat of him exercising his (over-market) $52M option would increase his leverage over the course of this year.
Realistically, Butler is looking at a deal of about $120M over 3 seasons: 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28. Butler will be willing to reduce his first year from $52M in order to get more years. To trade Butler, Miami will need to provide consideration for his $52M 2025-26 option.
Brooklyn will give Jimmy a max contract and not think twice about it
He’s too old for Bklyn. Bklyn all about youth. Like Wizards …….
Actually they have the money once Randle and Divo off the books that was part of the motivation with moving KAT if I’m not mistaken. But at the same time that money does need to be used to resign Naz
Or, know, just add in more teams to even up the money/picks.
Taco, on the Butler-Randle deal… Certainly intriguing. It checks a lot of boxes. And Minn has to have been thinking about Randle-for-Butler.
I don’t think Ant and Jimmy can play together, though. They’re both ball-stoppers. I also don’t like that Jimmy as a 3 is yet another starter that can’t shoot, which has been killing Wolves. McDaniel + Butler + Rudy has to be the worst shooting frontline in NBA.
Butler is only a ball stopper when it makes sense. He’s a high IQ player that adapts to the situation. If his team needs him to drive and score he can but if they need him to play off ball he can do that too. In Minnesota he’d make sense as a defacto PG as Conley can’t play like he use too for long stretches. Shooting would be a problem but it already is with Randle and Butler’s certainly an upgrade over Randle in every other aspect.
That’s good. And it could work lol.
Apparently Butler to Warriors does have some traction, throw enough mud at the wall, some will stick. I’d find it quite funny if Jimmy ended up in San Fran. Wait, this was your big play? So many mixed messages since the last title. We love our young guys, they’re all future all stars lol. We didn’t want Markkanen he doesn’t move the needle. Conviently leave out the part where Utah didn’t even want kuminga. Oops, forget everything we’ve said. We now want Jimmy on our books for his 36th, 37th and 38th birthday. If nothing else the pairing of Draymond and Jimmy would be watched more than days of our lives, could live stream practices for a few bucks. I for one would definitely love witnessing the first bit of advise or constructive criticism Green throws towards Jimmy.
nrg82, where other than rumors does the Butler-GSW deal have “traction”?
I’ve not heard one analyst or knowledgeable person explain how the money side of it could work.
There’s traction in that Golden State tried to trade for LeBron, George and Markkanen, so they’re in the market for a star and Butler may be the only one available. They might have one in Kuminga so that’s why they’re starting him now. It helps build his trade value or they find out if he’s the guy.
They’re one of the few teams that have the salaries to make the trade straight up. Kuminga, Melton, Watters and Wiggins work without hitting the depth. Sure it hurts their long term outlet but Curry and Green aren’t going to be around forever and when they do leave they have to start over anyway. The two timelines thing is dead. Kuminga, Moody and Podz as a core isn’t scaring anyone. Take a shot at another title run now while Curry and Green can still contribute.
The only caveat I’d have is that I’m not sure Butler is that much of an upgrade over Wiggins at this stage of his career.
Money is not there for warriors trade. Wiggins would be going and more players so warriors do not get better
@ Aristotle. You’re on the net man, try hoops hype or multiple other sites, including here yesterday. Fanspo.com is also easily the best nba trade machine site available. I’m no cap guru, not sure how aggregating multiple players work for first apron teams etc. I’m also not sure if Melton can even be traded while injured. Recently signed guys can’t be traded until December 15th, so now pretty much. Wiggins, kuminga, Melton plus the $2 million trade exemption from Joseph matches the salary of Butler. Its also possible this could be on the table in the off season, which is beneficial to Golden State. Jimmy would not activate his player option in favour of less money longer deal. How much money did Kuminga want again? Sign and trade heavier picks based, keep Wiggins. Only issue waiting is some cashed up cellar dweller could just sign Jimmy outright as a FA. Also depends what Jimmy wants. Greedy, or want to compete while still getting paid well. With your GM hat on Aristotle, what’s your call?
I’m not Aristotle but just letting you know that your trade outline which is similar to mine works, teams can aggregate salaries until the second apron. Injured players can be traded and Melton is desirable because he has an expiring contract. I don’t think Golden State or Miami would make a trade until closer to the deadline as The Warriors want to see what they got in Kuminga and Miami would want know where they stand as they’re in striking distance of a top seed in the East, even moreso with Orlando’s injury situation.