The Rockets, Mavericks and Warriors are the teams most often linked to a potential Jimmy Butler trade, but none of them are considered certain to make a strong bid to acquire the Heat star, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack column (subscription required).
Stein views Golden State as the most serious contender among the group, with sources telling him that the Warriors have expressed some interest in Butler and one informant saying the team wants to “take a swing” on a significant move by the trade deadline. Stein notes that Golden State attempted to land Paul George and Lauri Markkanen during the offseason, even though those efforts were unsuccessful. He adds that Draymond Green has experience playing alongside Butler on the U.S. Olympic team in 2016.
Houston has plenty of assets to offer in exchange for Butler, but Stein points to general manager Rafael Stone‘s stance that he doesn’t plan to pursue a major in-season trade. The Rockets have also let it be known that age considerations will be important if they do go after a star, making sure that player is on a similar timeline as the rest of their young core. That would seem to exclude any interest in the 35-year-old Butler.
Financial restraints will likely prevent the Mavericks from getting involved, Stein adds. They already have Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on max contracts, and both players will become eligible for new deals in July. Stein doesn’t believe Dallas is looking for another player like Butler, who is used to having the ball in his hands.
Butler, who has a $52.4MM player option for next season, has been open about his intention to pursue free agency. Meeting with reporters after Wednesday’s practice, he refused to commit when asked if he wants to finish his career in Miami.
“I don’t know,” he responded. “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.”
Stein offers more inside information from around the NBA:
- The Wizards, Jazz and Nets are the primary sellers as the league’s unofficial trade season gets set to open Sunday, with a rival executive telling Stein, “When you call them, they’re willing to make a deal right now.” Stein hears that the Raptors, Trail Blazers and Bulls are also being monitored to see if they’re interested in parting with certain players. Sources tell Stein that Brooklyn is asking for at least one first-round pick in exchange for swingman Dorian Finney-Smith or point guard Dennis Schröder. Washington is “increasingly regarded as likely” to pursue trades involving Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon while listening to offers for Kyle Kuzma, who is in the second season of a four-year, $90MM contract.
- Sources tell Stein that the Pelicans have no interest in fielding offers for Herbert Jones despite the team’s disastrous 5-20 start. Jones is the team’s best perimeter defender and is under contract through the 2026/27 season.
- The Sixers aren’t expected to be active in December, according to Stein, because their most logical trade chip — KJ Martin — doesn’t become trade eligible until January 15.
- Scouts believe the Cavaliers will try to acquire at least one more wing before the deadline, Stein adds. Even though Cleveland is at the top of the East, there’s a belief that the team will need to upgrade its perimeter defense for the playoffs.
Seeing a whole bunch of posts online saying GSW’s goal is to get Lebron AND Jimmy. Knowing how much MDJ loves multi-teamers, its possible. Not likely, but not impossible.
It’s impossible to get even 1 of them. Just reporters getting clicks.
Technically they could get Butler and James but they’d have to trade Curry, obviously that’s not happening but it’s realistically possible for the Warriors to get one of them.
Can the great Babey J present a trade from the trade machine that would allow them to take in James AND Butler.
The numbers just wont work with GSW keeping both Curry and Green. Maybe if they trade Green but that is unlikely.
@ Arc. Oh, they can hear Jimmy.
Is 100% gettable.
It would be as big of a blunder as Paul George trade.
Jimmy balls out, plays hard man. Doesn’t address the big man rotation though, as in Centre. Rockets couldn’t of shot the ball any worse from deep just now. Warriors bigs didn’t come close holding their own today. Asking a bit much of Draymond in the supersized West.
What are you gloating about? The Rockets didn’t destroy the Warriors. They won one, after 5 years of trying. They got the monkey off the backs.
If Rockets acquire Butler, they would have 3 big. Contracts to sign next summer
Butler
Smith
Eason
No teams can afford 6 big contracts
Schroeder and DFS are worth watching because:
– the Nets have to move them before the trade deadline
– they’re “rentals”: free agents at the end of the season
– they’re rotation, not starters, on contending teams
Individually, neither gets the Nets a starting-quality player or a high draft pick, which is why there has been talk of the 2 being packaged in a single deal.
Dennis Schroeder would be a great get for the right price. Keep in mind that he is a 31 yr old journeyman. He’s been released/cut 4 times in his NBA career. He’ll give a contending team a great backup PG for 1/2 a season. In a trade, at best, he might fetch a top 20 protected first round pick; but a couple of 2nds along with Melton’s matching salary is more like it.
Dorian Finney-Smith, similarly, is a 31 yr old on an $13M expiring contract — unfortunately for the Nets, with a player option for another year. He might fetch a highly protected first round pick if not for the player option. I expect it’ll be much less.
DFS would give a contending team a nice rotation piece for 1/2 a season. DFS is gritty, intelligent, and plus defender. Offensively, don’t be fooled by his 35% career 3 pt%. He’s extremely timid offensively, averaging only 9 pts / 34 minutes played over his career. He passes up more open shots per minute than any starting player in the NBA. He’s an under-average passer and you’ll rarely see him attack the basket. He’s a willing but under-average rebounder.
Why do the Nets have to move Shroeder and Finney? They aren’t going to be taking back salary. They are just stockpiling future picks.