10:32am: The Warriors, viewed near the start of the month as an unlikely suitor for Butler, are one of the teams back in the mix now that the Heat have lowered their asking price, reports Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel hears from a source that the Heat would be satisfied to receive a “potential contributing” player on a one- or two-year contract, expiring salary, and a pair of draft picks in exchange for Butler.
9:48am: The Heat are “cautiously optimistic” about the possibility of making a Jimmy Butler trade before the February 6 deadline, according to Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, who report that Miami has been engaging “several” teams besides the Suns.
While Phoenix has long been viewed as Butler’s preferred landing spot and the team most willing to give the 35-year-old the maximum-salary contract he’s seeking, the Suns haven’t had much luck finding a trade structure that works, per The Herald.
Bradley Beal would have to be sent to a third team in order for the Suns to acquire Butler, since Phoenix can’t aggregate contracts and Miami isn’t interested in the veteran guard, who has two more years and nearly $111MM left on his contract after this season.
Finding a taker for Beal has been a challenge, especially since he has the ability to veto any deal using his no-trade clause. While Beal is reportedly open to waiving that clause to join a contending team, ideally one in a warm-weather city, he also seems to be comfortable with the idea of remaining in Phoenix, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Appearing on ESPN (Twitter video links), NBA insider Brian Windhorst backed up the notion that the Heat are talking to teams besides the Suns about Butler and said Miami is “really, really trying to make this happen,” adding that the team’s asking price on Butler has dropped a little from where it was earlier in the month.
“Obviously, the Phoenix Suns have tried to get this done for weeks,” Windhorst said on SportsCenter. “They have tried three-, four-, five-team machinations. They have not been able to overcome the fact that what they’ve really got to trade is Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause and not a very big market. So now I do believe this is going to bring in some other teams. We could see some surprising moves in this little battle in the next couple of days.
“… I am not saying for sure this is going to happen. I’m not predicting what’s going to happen. But I do think some teams that thought they were out of this are coming back in because it doesn’t look like the Suns and Heat are going to be able to consummate a deal. I think we might see a team swoop in here and get Jimmy Butler at a cheap price. A guy who can be the best player in a playoff series at a bargain price.”
Windhorst went a step further during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday morning (Twitter video link).
“Jimmy Butler’s going to get traded,” he predicted. “I wasn’t sure about that maybe seven to 10 days ago. I really am more sure than ever that that’s going to happen.”
The Heat announced on Monday that they’ve suspended Butler for a third time. Following a five-game suspension earlier this month and a two-game suspension that just concluded on Saturday, the latest suspension is an indefinite one and was said to be for “withholding services.” That means it will cost Butler 1/91.6th of his $48.8MM salary for each game he misses — the previous suspensions for conduct detrimental for the team cost him 1/145th of his salary per game.
Since word of Butler’s desire to be traded first broke last month, reports have indicated that the Heat are willing to hang onto the six-time All-Star through this season and revisit trade talks in the summer if they don’t get the sort of return they want by February 6. The club is said to be prioritizing win-now players with contracts that don’t extend beyond 2025/26.
However, with the standoff between the two sides continuing to escalate, it appears increasingly untenable for Butler to remain on the roster for several more months, which is why the front office is more motivated than ever to find a viable deal.
As Jackson and Chiang point out, while Butler’s camp has long conveyed that he intends to decline his 2025/26 player option in favor of free agency, the veteran forward could make life difficult on the Heat by picking up that option in June and essentially putting Miami back in the same situation it’s in now — with a disgruntled star on a maximum-salary deal, hamstringing the team’s ability to improve the roster around him.
Additionally, while the Heat are theoretically saving some money as a result of Butler’s suspensions, team-imposed suspensions don’t affect a team’s tax bill, and based on existing precedents, it’s very possible Butler will regain a chunk of his lost salary through the appeal process. In other words, the financial incentives to continue suspending him are minimal.
Neither Windhorst nor the duo of Jackson and Chiang named specific teams outside of Phoenix that might be exploring a deal for Butler. Previous reporting has indicated that the Grizzlies have kicked the tires on the possibility, despite being warned against it, while Marc Stein said on Monday that rival clubs continue to wonder if the Bucks will get involved.
Good article, Luke! Hey.. maybe Bradley Beal doesn’t want to leave Phoenix? Why should Jimmy Butler get his way and Beal doesn’t get his? Talk about a power struggle between two highly-paid players!
I don’t think Jimmy much cares about anything other than getting his way and going to Phoenix, regardless of what has to happen. He obviously doesn’t care about what it costs Miami or Phoenix, as long as he gets paid his $50M a year and plays where he wants to. He obviously doesn’t care about the Miami fans, either. As long as he gets his way!
Beal doesnt want to leave phx to go to some bottom dweller team. Of course the teams he would be interested in have no interest in him. It was insane that they didnt insist he drop the no trade clause to get him. Of course he was the only thing anywhere close to an impact player PHX could get for that trash can of assets they gave up. Dont have to pay that much for the worst contract in the sport even if it is attached to a decent 20M a year player.
Suns are 8th… not like they are much better than the Heat other than big name guys.
Yeah I am talking about teams like CHI/WAS that are willing to facilitate. I dont see actual competitive teams in good playoff position wanting him, and him not wanting to get traded to a tanking team.
This is Suns chance to acquire Butler
Heat pay Butler $10 million to buyout (Heat big loss, Butler big loss)
Butler would sign Vet Min with Suns.
If Butler has proven ANYTHING this season, it’s that he’s not giving up any cash to play basketball…
The suns would need to send assets to the Heat to take Bradley since he has a extra year on his contract. 2 players that signed big contracts that nobody wants to be part of.
Beal’s also a worse player when healthy, so there’s that too. But that’s why they pulled that trade with the Jazz to get the extra FRPs.
*A worse player than Butler, to be clear.
Heat asking price has 3 sections
1. “potential contributing” player on a one- or two-year contract,
2. expiring salary,
3. and a pair of draft
Warriors would offer
1. Wiggins to Raptors for Brown (Brown to Heat)
2. Expiring Contracts
Payton
Looney
Walker
3. a pair of Warriors First round picks
Do Suns have better offer than Warriors?
Are all you Warriors-haters going to have your heads explode when we get Jimmy for basically nothing? I thought we had to mortgage the future to get him? Oh wait, circumstances change, therefore our takes can!
Not you or gary, arc, but weird how none of these low IQ haters in these threads who I have blocked have never afforded me this obvious luxury. “Remember when you said GSW was top 4 when they were full strength and 12-3? Well look at them now – you were wrong!” = idiot logic, at work.
Honestly, I want to see the Heat make it to the 2nd round of the Playoffs without Jimmy while he loses in the 1st round, wherever he goes. Heck, maybe he goes to Milwaukee and they have a 4/5 1st round matchup. That’d be fun as a neutral fan.
I get hating on Pat Riley (though I don’t) for how he handled all this, but I like the rest of the Heat’s players and want to see them succeed as long as it’s not at the expense of my Cavs, lol. Jimmy, though, I don’t think of very highly right now. Dude’s pulling a Ben Simmons, except arguably worse because Simmons legitimately seems to have developed the yips and then injuries after that Hawks series and trade to Brooklyn. Jimmy’s all about the Benjamins.
Ben suspended himself indefinitely because the 6ers wanted him to play. The Heat suspended Jimmy indefinitely because he wanted to play. Not the same.
Jimmy wants to play by his rules, at his pace, at his salary. That’s not really that different from Simmons. And Simmons really did seem to be dealing with something at the time. His head was just not on straight. Butler’s only dealing with a hole in his wallet that only he can see, because he’s not worth the max extension he wants.
It still baffles me that some teams actually want Butler. Do they think that he will behave and be a team player on their team when he has consistently shown that he will follow his own will and desires again and again and again?
It’s insane…
This clown makes 47 mill a year? Just cut him.
I’d let him be the 12th man on the team for the rest of the year. And then make him decline his player option next year and then try to secure $50mm a season in free agency. No one would pay that..
You can’t make him decline his option?
And if they just suspend and keep him I think hes more likely to exercise it as a FU since they probably wont have a ton of luck getting him to his preferred destination on his preferred contract this summer.
Sorry…worded wrong…. Force Jimmie to choose: stay or go? Jimmie’s choice
That’s why u should flag yourself. Butler will probably end up a warrior in my opinion. Davey J needs a new toy.
I think whoever is sourcing that is full of s***. I wouldnt trade Wiggins on 26M for Butlers deal straight up much less along with assets and additional contracts. I doubt you could even get Butler to buy into playing the Warriors system with lots of ball and player movement and him being needed to take open catch and shoots or movement 3s instead of iso midrange. He is a pretty poor fit in their system and costs a 1/3 of the rotation.
Maybe if it was DS/GP/Hield/Anderson/Loon/Waters and next to no pick capital, but then its insane since MIA doesnt have 5 open roster spots. Also that wouldnt be enough money below the tax after the deal to sign new players to get back to 14. Like any Ws deal thats more than 3 for 1 requires them to save additional millions just to be able to get to the required players on the roster since even pro rated mins are several million for several contracts.
I agree completely, honestly. Butler just also isn’t that level of player. He’s a great player when he’s all-in and can produce in the playoffs but he won’t help much if at all in the regular season, which the Warriors need because right now they’re not even a play-in team. We already saw with Schroeder that if you don’t fit the Warrior’s system that you become a net negative for the team. And Schroeder’s arguably a better fit for them than Butler.
Plus you’re losing everything that Wiggins and whoever you add on gives you, and Jimmy will replace none of it but wing defense from Wiggins. Not a shooter and doesn’t do great without the ball.
Schroeder is sooooo bad….. They would have 5 more wins at least if they had just gotten DFS instead. SOOOOOO DUMBBBBBB Dunleavy!
Chapman –
Don’t blame Dunleavey for Schroeder. Kerr said that he asked for Schroeder, and that Steph & Draymond also strongly supported the idea.
Kerr wanted another primary ballhandler to help Steph, esp to close games. DFS wouldn’t help there.
I would rather play Pat Spencer than DS
Chapman, yes! On most nights, absolutely, Pat would be better.
I don’t believe Kerr allows Schroder be traded easily, though. Kerr spent a lot of reputation capital on acquiring Schroder, which also involved a significant demotion for Podziemski. We’ll see.
Hard to know what price would be appropriate for a guy who can and very well might opt in to a $52 million extension and then refuse to play unless he gets an extension.
Hes screwed like Harden was a couple years ago where they can feel around quietly for whats out there, but his opt in is before FA starts and he becomes eligible for a extension so he has to opt in or out before knowing what the offers are.
Butler isn’t gonna move the needle for the Warriors or the Suns.
He didn’t move the needle for the Heat either.
He won’t move the needle for Suns and Warriors, but Heat don’t make it to two NBA finals without him.
Hard to move any needles when you have to have 48M in salary matching and MIA refuses to take back truly bad contracts to get off him.
Curry + a .500 team + Jimmy = a .500 team? Nope. You wish.
Yeah, I’m talking about 2025, if you couldn’t figure that out.
I say he improves the Suns if its a Beal deal since I trust his health slightly more, and he is a better fitting player at full health. I think he might make the Warriors worse since they need 3 and D wings and Wiggins does the 3 and the D better than Butler. It wouldnt hurt them to just add him as a buyout guy, but he will cost them more talent than he has to bring back and gut the depth while the team is still dealing with several injuries.
Lindy Waters, Gary Payton 2 and 2 seconds for Jimmy? Sure why not.
That doesn’t work in terms of salary, dude. Wiggins quite literally *has* to be in any Butler trade. Him or Draymond, and it’s not going to be Draymond.
That’s where my disconnect is. Is Butler an objectively better player than Wiggins? Yes. Is he better *enough* that he’s worth the drama, the worse fit, the contract situation, and the potential secondary assets? Not in my opinion. He improves the Warriors, but not by enough to get them out of the play-in with Curry struggling with injuries, Draymond only just coming back, and Kuminga still unavailable. The Warriors need more help for this season if they want to do anything, and Jimmy’s age and attitude don’t look great moving forward. They have to compromise the current team no matter what to get Butler or someone else in his salary range, so it has to be a move that *really* moves the needle.
If they trade Wiggins, they are done
I think it’s more that this year is kind of a wash. Just do what you can with the current unit, see what you have when everyone is as healthy as you can get. Then make a trade in the offseason for the kind of difference-maker that the Warriors need. Kind of like the 2020-2021 season, where they were a play-in squad but got Poole’s development year out of it and made some moves around the margins to upgrade, in addition to getting Klay back, which was functionally an upgrade because he’d missed the prior two seasons.
It sucks, because Steph and Draymond aren’t getting any younger, but there aren’t really great options right now if Butler is the best they can do, both in terms of fit and player quality. All of Steph, Draymond, and Kerr have been against a panic trade for that reason.
I would rather see them send out expiring salary for Kuzma to see if a change of scenery helps him. DS/Heild/Waters and you change the protections on the owed pick to top 10 plus a second. It would shave a bit of salary so they could upgrade post to a standard contract and sign a buyout guy or two.
I am also cautiously optimistic about getting a new job
Windy needs to stop drinking before he writes his posts…
Jimmy Butler is not the best player on a playoff team anymore…
Screw Butler. If he doesn’t want to play find a way to void his damn contract and let him try to sign somewhere for crap money. Who would even want this guy in their locker room?
I agree….make him rot on the bench as a 12th man. If he acts up, shows up late, etc…suspend him without pay. Butler loves his money….he won’t want to lose it
The NBA needs to override the players association and put these millionaires playing a game in their place…
They should be greatful for their luck in life… Not act like a spoilt brat every time some small thing doesn’t go their way like Butler has repeatedly…
I call BS. Just the usual linking to a popular team for clicks. How exactly are Golden State matching salaries. Wiggins, Dennis Podz doesn’t get it done. Adding more for Jimmy is ludicrous. Vuch is a much more viable target.
All the fans lacking knowledge of hoops hate on Jimmy… he & he alone took garbage MIA teams to 2 finals… so who would want him… everybody you pillocks!!!