The Heat expect Jimmy Butler to resume playing after his seven-game suspension is over if he hasn’t been traded by then, a source close to the situation tells Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Management isn’t willing to let Butler stay away from the team and collect the remainder of his $48.8MM salary, Chiang adds.
Chiang’s source also says Miami has engaged in trade talks about Butler with numerous teams over the past several days, but hasn’t received an offer worth pursuing. He confirms that the Suns are among those expressing interest, but the Heat have no interest in taking on Bradley Beal because of the no-trade clause in his contract. That means a third team would have to be willing to absorb Beal’s $50.2MM salary and he would have to OK the deal.
Even though he’s suspended, Butler is able to work out at the team’s Kaseya Center facilities while the Heat are on a six-game road trip, Chiang adds. He’ll be eligible to return to the court for a January 17 home game against Denver.
Efforts to find a taker for Butler have been complicated by Miami’s desire to take back the lowest possible amount of guaranteed salary beyond this season, Marc Stein states in his latest Substack column (subscription required). That has led to pessimism about finding a deal quickly, especially with the Warriors reportedly no longer interested.
Stein also points out that missing the playoffs would be “legitimately disastrous” for the Heat, which may explain the motivation to keep playing Butler if no trade materializes. If Miami doesn’t reach the postseason, its 2026 first-round pick would be sent to Oklahoma City without any protections.
That pick was originally shipped to the Clippers in the four-team sign-and-trade deal that brought Butler to the Heat in 2019, Stein explains, and the Thunder acquired it in 2022. If the Heat reach the playoffs this season, OKC will get Miami’s 2025 first-rounder, which would fall outside the top 14. If the Heat are in the lottery, the unprotected first-rounder would convey in 2026.
Stein also points out that Miami owes a first-round pick to Charlotte from last season’s trade for Terry Rozier. Because of the Stepien rule that prevents teams from trading their first-rounders in back-to-back years, if the Oklahoma City pick conveys in 2026, the pick to the Hornets will be tied up until 2028, reducing the Heat’s flexibility moving forward.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also offers an update on Butler trade talks (video link), saying the Heat “don’t like their hand at all right now.” Sources tell Windhorst that Pat Riley‘s declaration last month that the team wasn’t interested in trading Butler came after several offers were received that were unsatisfactory. Windhorst adds that rival clubs seem to be testing Miami to see how low it is willing to sell Butler.
He notes that the only exception has been the Suns, whom he cites as the “best fit and most aggressive team” in the Butler pursuit. However, the Heat’s lack of interest in Beal is a major roadblock, and it’s very difficult to put together a three- or four-team deal under current CBA restrictions.
Windhorst still expects Butler to be traded somewhere before the deadline, but he states that Miami is operating from a position of weakness.
Aww some of these athletes’ nice salaries!! Bless them all
my best idea for Heat
1. take back mid-size overpaid contracts – like DeRozan
2. acquire only 1 centerpiece like Murray (Kings)
3. never waste the time to talk to teams like Rockets and Magic, they have huge luxury after adding Butler
4. Never waste the time to talk to Suns or 76ers, they won’t help Heat to manage luxury tax
5. No one has a better offer than Warriors, stop dreaming again, Heat fans
Warrriors offer 2 centerpieces and expiring contracts for the Heat to save luxury tax going forward
I did the research
My prediction: Butler to the Pistons
1. Pistons cap space is $14 million as of today and Pistons first round picks look very handsome.
2. Pistons are only one game back from 6th seed
3. Ivey is injured
4. Pistons can help Heat to manage luxury tax going forward
5. It needs 4team deal or 2 separate trades for Pistons
He should pick up his option on them too.
I am definitely hoping for that outcome.
He will if they don’t trade him. No one else is going to pay him $52 million and no one has the cap space to sign him for what he wants.
If the total guarantee was significantly more than $52 million, say numbers like 3/$100 he may agree to opt out.
Lol. Depends on what you mean by ‘play’. Suit up? Sure. Break a sweat? No. This is over Pat. Make the trade.
He will give the Albert Haynesworth effort.
Jimmy won an Olympic gold medal. That’s pretty cool.
Heat is finding out nobody will trade for him anything of value. Why would any team? Now they would be lucky to get 1 1st round pick and some expiring contracts.
They would take that trade in a heartbeat, but no team that can use Butler has matching expiring salaries
1st round pick? Lol only if it is 1-28 protected
Pat Riley played with fire and now he’s getting burnt.
Yep, any semblance of leverage is completely gone now.
None of this he said she said stuff matters…
Butler was overpaid damaged goods already…
Beal got moved before the new CBA made bad contracts a thing to avoid…
BEAL to Washington
BUTLER to Phoenix
BROGDAN and KUZMA -or- POOLE to MIAMI
Picks or swaps to Miami and Washington.
Why would Washington want Beal back? Beal has a no trade clause and he asked to get out once so he is not going back.
Beal didn’t exactly ask out. He and the team agreed that it would better for both parties to part ways. He always said he and his family were happy in Washington. His kids liked their friends in school and his wife was involved in the community. As far as the Wizards perspective? I’m sure they’d love to bring him back as a fan favorite and team mentor, just not at his current salary.
Would a older player want to play on a team going nowhere?
Not everyone is the same. He’s set financially. Sometimes family and stability are more important than fame and glory.
Agreed. No way in the world Washington would do this trade. The last thing Washington needs is a massive contract for a player in the downside of his career.
No way Washington does that. Trade 2/3 top trade assets to just get Beal back for 2 more years!?
I can’t wait for the standoff this summer when he opts in and starts this saga all over again.
Spo will have more gray hair than Riley when this is over.
So of the Heat make the playoffs this year, they lose their first round pick (lottery protected).
If the Heat miss the playoffs this year then they are in the lottery in a year (2025) with a strong deep draft pool, but lose an unprotected first in 2026.
I’m not sure I see a big difference unless they plan to tear it down next season, which is something I can’t recall this front office ever really doing.
Supposedly it’s not a strong deep draft pool at all. Better top of the draft but worse thereafter.
Beal, Dunn, Oso and picks for Butler and Love
Phoenix would then need a upgrade from Nurkic. The one time Draymond picked a goon
Beal would hopefully waive the no trade clause
The real problem with the Heat is …… Bam playing C when he is stuck in a PF’s body. They should trade for Vucevic if Butler is not traded
He’s been a stuck up a-hole his whole life. He probably came out of the womb giving his mom the finger saying he shoulda been traded to a mom respecting how godly his talents are.
He’s never even been top level elite, but acts like he’s MJ or LeBron. They elevated teams and he’s left them smoldering messes of distrust and anger. A true cancer to the sport of basketball.
I’d be happy if the owners all just get to get her and agree Butler is retired on their terms.
I don’t see MIA tanking as long as Riley is running things. He’s fixated on making one last run for a title, or at least being able to kid himself in that regard, and is too old to put that off. It’s one reason why his actions wrt to Butler were a bit eye opening. Even if those actions were consistent with his historical persona, they weren’t consistent with the new world that exists in the NBA personnel markets.
Nevertheless, tanking or not, Riley is at the point where he has to look at his pricy and somewhat talented roster, and decide just how far it (sans Butler) is from being a contender. Then what might be an acceptable return for Butler based on that. Even if tanking is out of the question, getting under the luxury tax for a couple of years while the team does a modest reset shouldn’t be.
Butler for Lavine straight up, who said no?
To what end does this statement need to be said? To what end does this need to be leaked?
There is no alternative viewpoint conflicting with this.
The sky is blue. Yes.
Yes, an employer expects you to work.
There is no scenario where anyone could imagine the heat Beginning this ordeal by allowing Butler to leave the team , not play, and still pay him……until he has “pain” and can’t play.
I never understood worthless statements that go without saying.
I mean it’s cute the Heat think he’ll just show up and things will be fine…
Gonna enjoy my popcorn…
When you suspend a star 7 games, the star does not look handsome any more.
It is about look – handsome or ugly?
What star did they suspend?
MIA are such sourgrapes!