Heat forward Jimmy Butler would prefer to be traded ahead of the February 6 deadline rather than sticking with Miami for the full season, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Charania clarifies that Butler has not formally asked the Heat to trade him, but he’s “believed to be ready for his exit” from the franchise.
Butler has been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks, with Charania first reporting on December 10 that the Heat were open to listening to offers on the six-time All-Star.
Charania stated at the time that the Mavericks, Rockets, and Warriors were a few of the teams that would appeal to Butler in the event of a trade, then added the Suns to that list the following day. Phoenix and Golden State are believed to be his top choices from among that group, Charania said today on NBA Countdown (Twitter video link).
Multiple teams have been in touch with the Heat within the past couple weeks to express interest in Butler, but Miami isn’t showing urgency in those discussions, sources tell ESPN.
Reporting in the wake of Miami’s elimination from the 2024 playoffs indicated that Butler would be seeking a maximum-salary extension during the offseason. Asked about that possibility during his end-of-season press conference in the spring, president of basketball operations Pat Riley expressed reluctance to make that sort of financial investment in a player “unless you have someone who is going to be available every night,” a reference to Butler’s injury issues in recent seasons.
Butler subsequently decided to put off extension discussions and remain with the Heat to open the season rather than pushing for an offseason trade. However, he has been unhappy about not being extended, according to Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
Following the publication of today’s ESPN report, reporters in Miami – including Chiang and Jackson – have cited sources who confirm Butler hasn’t demanded a trade. According to The Herald, Butler would play out the season with Miami if that’s what the team decides, but would be fine with a change of scenery as well.
The 35-year-old is earning $48.8MM this season and holds a $52.4MM player option for the 2025/26 season. Multiple reports have indicated he intends to turn down that option to become a free agent, whether or not he’s traded this season. Butler doesn’t have to make a decision on that option until late June though, so it’s possible he’ll use that stance for leverage purposes and opt in or sign an extension later in the season if he ends up in a situation he likes.
Marc Stein and others have reported that the Heat believe they’d be in a good position with Butler next summer, since the rebuilding Nets are the only team projected to have maximum-salary cap room. Chiang and Jackson reiterated that point today, writing that Miami is “not at all concerned” about losing the former Marquette standout for nothing in free agency. Still, Charania says both the Heat and Butler seem willing to move on from one another.
Butler’s relationship with the Heat has become “somewhat strained,” per Chiang and Jackson, who hear from a source that the 14-year veteran was disappointed the team didn’t publicly deny Charania’s Dec. 10 report that Miami was open to moving him. Butler was also the only Heat player not to attend a Christmas party at Riley’s house, though he has missed the party in the past, so that’s not necessarily meaningful, according to Chiang and Jackson (Twitter link).
The Herald duo hears from a source that Butler was “caught off guard” when Riley scolded him at his spring press conference for Butler’s claim that the Celtics and Knicks would “be at home” if he had been able to play in the postseason.
“If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut on the criticism of those teams,” Riley said at the time.
While the relationship between player and team isn’t as strong as it once was, Butler hasn’t been disruptive at all this season like he was in 2018 when he requested a trade out of Minnesota, according to The Herald.
Butler is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 31.4 minutes per game across 20 outings so far this season, with a .552/.357/.782 shooting line. His season-long averages have been hurt to some extent by the fact that he was only able to play seven minutes in a pair of games that he left due to injuries.
Butler’s $48.8MM salary will complicate some teams’ ability to acquire him via trade. The Mavericks and Suns fall into that group and appear not to have enough assets to entice Miami, per Chiang and Jackson. The Rockets, meanwhile, have told people they’re not interested in pursuing Butler, a source tells The Herald.
It will not be to where he wants to go since most teams do not have $50 million in trading chips to match the trades.
This is what I said before
Traded before TD 70%
Walk for nothing next summer 20%
Resign with Heat 10%
Butler trade for Beal 0%
I just don’t see him being traded because the Heats would want something of value coming back and why trade for a rental player giving up a lot of assets?
For Golden State this season may just be the last shot at making a deep playoff run. Curry and Green aren’t getting any younger. If Butler’s a rental than so be it. The two timeline thing didn’t work. Neither Moody or Kuminga are ever going to be superstars. The Warriors are going to have to rebuild soon whether they want to or not.
If that was true just rebuild now. Butler would not help the warriors make a run since he is no better than what they would give up for him. They would actually be worse of a team. That is why trades needs to make sense for each team. As of now Wiggins is better than Butler so why trade Wiggins for somebody who doesn’t make the team better?
Sillivan, based on this article, the relationship is already finished. It’s already over.
He’s gone, but the heat won’t say that outright. There’s no way the heat go through the rest of this entire season and call it a day just because of one player.
They will dump his assets as soon as possible for whatever they can get and try to make a run of it from there.
Wow
Seriously? What a clown. This is the last year on his contract and he has a player option next year.
Play it out THEN leave and go wherever you want as opposed to being an aging prima donna.
As an edit.. I commented before additional info was added to the article about Butler not minding staying the year.
I don’t see a trade happening because what team can match a trade for that amount of money and it appeals to Heat what they get back.
What obligation does Jimmy have to do that? Because YOU said he should? Because YOU have some weird owner fetish? You people make me sick and I mean that to its most extreme degree.
Hilarious thats it’s okay for Miami to announce they’re taking calls for Jimmy but it’s almost criminal for him to seek out a better situation. You dorks don’t like basketball.
I bet he has a Twitter account and probably has old posts that they need to trade/dump Butler after a bad game
Sorry to hear about YOUR terminal illness.
Considering Butler has wanted out everywhere he’s been boner head, Riley has decided to be the bully this time. Hilarious you think it’s ok for Butler but not ok he got a taste of his own medicine. You are a boner head
Merry Christmas, Heat fans!
Sarcasm at its finest.
With a healthy Jimmy Butler, a lot of teams could make a playoff run. Including MIA. Probably why he’ll there until the end of the year.
Relationship seems fractured and unrepairable to me.
Probably, but not sure Miami wants to capitulate for this season.
Yes maybe Santa will bring them a time machine for Christmas
Maybe, but he was the best player on the floor for 3 separate playoff series as recently as 2023. More limited as an asset than player.
Merry christmas everyone
If I ever see a Wiggins for Jimmy Butler trade I will stop being a Warriors fan, call me bandwagon idc I wouldnt be able to mentally handle that lol
that would be a terrible trade for the warriors. Wiggins can get you 18 a game and play great defense.
After that Athletics article about Wiggins’ father, I don’t think they’ll trade him.
Plus I agree, def a wash since Wiggins is their best perimeter defensive player.
I see Schroeder and JK in a trade probably.
IF GSW wanted to take a real chance they would trade for Zion. A trade with Wiggins, TJD, JK, and Podz with 2 1st round picks unprotected for Zion.
Zion never play
Even as a swing I would never want to bet on a guy as lazy and unprofessional as he has been. Yes, he put in more work heading into this season, but my overall point remains the same. If I can’t bet on the person or their health—and those two factors may not be unrelated—I’m out unless it’d be at a steep discount.
On paper I think Wiggins and Jimmy are a wash other than contract and age. I like Wiggins but Butler has that extra edge that Wiggins doesn’t. As the kids say “he has that dawg in him”.
Oh no…
Anyway…
Not sure any team is crazy enough to take him on and that contract. His intent to opt out is BS, he just wants to alleviate the concern of the existing contract and for someone to actually trade for him. He knows no one will want to take that on, and he very well know he’s not opting out of that. He’d be lucky if he got two years for that amount.
Butler loves Paul George contract
Butler is a better player
So a 35 y.o., oft-injured player with no shooting range wants a Max contract, probably for four years, and he wants to go to the place of his choice…
Jimmy Butler is done. Everyone knows by now that he can’t stay on the floor. And he wants bug $$. AND he wants years?
My goodness I think he’ll be in for a surprise this summer. Those close to him better advise him to opt into that 50 mil because I don’t think any other team would give him 25×2.
Basketball players are the least trusting all of sports. Always whining about something. No wonder no one watches anymore
Hahahahahaha.
God forbid a player look out for themselves. Especially after his GM comes out last offseason and basically says we’re not going to pay you.
Why does half of this board choose to see basketball players as literally less than human.
Please stop watching NBA basketball. The league and real fans of the game would prefer that. At least then you dumbasses wouldn’t get to have a half baked opinion.
Jimmy Butler has made $312M off NBA. Hes looked out for himself plenty. You sound stupid.
There’s no reason for Jimmy Butler not to continue to look out for himself. The Heat would trade him in a second if they felt it was better for them. Riley already fired the first salvo with his off season comments. With those comments I don’t doubt for a second that he was trying to drive down Jimmy’s asking price.
It’s all about business when a team trades a player but it’s selfish when a player looks out for himself?
Yes he did do a bad comment since every sport players look out for themselves not just NBA. Look at MLB where now its a couple of teams buying up all the players.
It isn’t a new thing for MLB. Sure the some of the teams that spend the money have changed along with the amount owners are willing to spend but it’s been like that for decades. It use to be the Yankees and Red Sox. Now it’s the Yankees, Mets and Dodgers.
Kings get: Kuminga, Looney, Anderson
Heat get: DeRozan, Wiggins
Warriors get: Butler
Add in whatever picks are might be needed.
I think the Warriors give up too much in this scenario.
They could also get some picks and/or another player for depth. As a base for a trade, I think it would be interesting.
I see what you mean… maybe a shooter like Hero or Duncan thrown in and probably need two second round picks. That would be a little easier to sell. Not Huerter because the Warriors already have Buddy Hield as a shooting non-defender.
But OK, it would be going for it this season and putting all the eggs in one basket. But it would be this season and then start over because I would not extend Jimmy Butler. No way.
Maybe a shooter like Herro. You’re cute.
What else does he do? It wasn’t till recently you couldn’t play the man because his defense was horrible.
As a heat fan, I thought you knew that?
He worked hard to become a nice player so maybe Hero is a reach here, but he didn’t come into the league that way. So I’m not as cute as you think I am.
Just wait Bam will be asking for a trade next. He is not going to sit around wasting his prime because Jimmy doesn’t feel like playing anymore.
The Heat know what they’re doing. Also, Bam has made the Finals twice. He’s not eating prime years.
That $50 M ol’dawg has bad knees nobody will trade for
No reason, no smoke from the HEAT org to trade Jimmy now.
No viable player to trade for e.g. Herro now with the better value, skills and contract than Beal ……. no reason to punt on the season, the HEAT makes the playoffs and it’s the East.
ESPN just being ESPN, ramming words down peoples throats ……. Shams making a mountain out of an anthill …… BTW Malika Andrews just called this upcoming LAL-GSW game the rivalry of the decade. lol.
Jimmy to the rockets or thunder. If he goes to the thunder then it’s an easy chip for them.