After the Suns made a trade on Tuesday to turn their unprotected 2031 first-round pick into three separate first-rounders in 2025, 2027, and 2029, a source close to Jimmy Butler told The Athletic that there’s “rising optimism” the Heat star is closer to being traded to his preferred destination in Phoenix.
As we outlined earlier today, even though the Suns’ 2031 first-round pick was easily the most valuable of any of the four draft assets involved in their trade with Utah, breaking up that pick into three future first-rounders puts Phoenix in a better position to offer sweeteners to multiple trade partners, which will likely be necessary.
Gambadoro (Twitter link) believes that as many as five teams would be involved if the Suns are able to eventually work out a deal for Butler.
The Bucks continue to be identified by rival executives as a team worth watching as a facilitator in the Butler talks, according to The Athletic’s reporters, including Sam Amick, Tony Jones, and Jon Krawczynski. There’s a belief that Milwaukee is exploring the idea of reducing its payroll to duck below the second apron while aggregating salaries to bring in another maximum-salary star.
Marc Stein suggested earlier this week that the Bucks could be a team to keep an eye on for Suns guard Bradley Beal, who would almost certainly need to be sent to a third team in any Phoenix trade for Butler, waiving his no-trade clause in the process.
The Athletic’s reporters also mention Zach LaVine as the type of player who might appeal to Milwaukee, though if the Bulls star were involved in any Butler/Beal scenario, it would have to expand into an even larger, more complex deal.
For the time being, Butler continues to take the floor for the Heat, though the six-time All-Star had another underwhelming outing on Tuesday vs. Portland, with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes — he didn’t play in the fourth quarter and Miami was outscored by 19 points during his time on the floor.
Shams Charania of ESPN, who reported last week that Butler reiterated his trade request during a meeting with president of basketball operations Pat Riley, tweeted on Tuesday night that the veteran forward has since “tripled down” on that request to Riley and team owner Micky Arison.
I think the answer to the question is absolutely, “yes.” That was step one.
Acquire some first round pics that though they may be late first rounders, allows the Miami heat to present to the press and fans at least on paper, a reasonable return for Jimmy. Optics matter.
Step two is finding a destination for Bradley Beal. I’m pretty sure the Suns upper brass is on the phone right now looking for a taker to help them out.
Will it take all 3 1st rounders for somebody to take Beal’s contract? A team getting Beal is throwing away $100 million of future payroll.
That’s a great question arc. I think if a team trades for Beal, they’ll want to unload their own crappy contract, but perhaps with the first round sweetener they take Bradley Beal’s two more years in exchange for perhaps a guy with just one more year.
There must be a team out there that would think that’s a reasonable exchange.
Must be a equally bad contracts that go for a couple of years. That is a lot of money to suck up.
If a guy makes $30 million next year and has just next year left on his deal, he must be traded for a guy making $30 million next year, even though in this scenario the 2nd guy might make $30 million in each of the next five years. I think that’s how it works.
The real hold up is Pat Riley. Will he be content enough just to unload Butler or does he want an actual asset or two in return?
That’s where the 3 first rounders and the destination(s) could be a hiccup.
Will Riley be content with just getting rid of a terrible player is the question? Can the warriors be part of the trade getting rid of one of their contracts?
Which trio of alumni would you rather have on your team if you could have them for their whole careers, Jimmy Butler/Jae Crowder/Oso Ighadaro, Vernon Maxwell/Brad Beal/Udonis Haslem, Marcus Sasser/Clyde Drexler/Jarace Walker, Travis Best/Chris Bosh/Baye Ndongo, Zach LaVine/Jaime Jaquez/Mark Eaton, Tyrese Haliburton/Jeff Hornacek/Kelvin Cato, Allen Iverson/Jeff Green/Thomas Sorber or Trae Young/Jeremiah Fears/Harvey Grant? Rank a top3 if possible…
I don’t understand this at all.
Lol np bro I got u. Google Udonis Haslem Florida, then google Jeremiah Fears OU & you’ll be abt 10% there
what does this have to do with jimmy butler being traded though?
Nothing at all. It has to do with Jimmy Butler (& others) playing basketball… link to m.youtube.com
So post this somewhere else? Look at the web address and ask what your post has to do with “hoops rumors”.
The hoops part, obviously
I sounds like you are talking about these guys in their best years? Did you just add up some guys based off VORP or Win Shares? I guess that is cool but I still don’t really get it. All cool!
Retired players current players rookies and college players.
Who is Thomas Sorber? Only one I don’t know
He’s a young beast who sorta reminds me of like if Othella Harrington, Alonzo Mourning & Mike Sweetney were all 1 guy. He’ll be a top20 pick in this next draft.. link to m.youtube.com
Sounds a little to random to compare these guys but cool post…I think.
Alumni of what??? The NBA???
Oof. Lol I think I made my point.
Miami is setting itself up to be the big winner here. Phoenix is setting itself up to be an absolute disaster long into the future. Pat Riley is about to completely take advantage of young Josh Bartelstein, and the impatient new Phoenix owner. Miami appears to potentially be getting the draft picks they want. Phoenix also happens to have 3 players in Grayson Allen, Tyus Jones and Royce O’Neal all shooting better than 41% from behind the three-point arc. I think Miami would like to get one of those.
Trading for Jimmy Butler, means Phoenix is gonna give him his extension. They have Durant’s contract ending after 2025-26 season. How does that work defensively in the coming years with a pair of guys closer to 40 than 30???
I told you guys last year that Kel’el Ware was the best big in the draft. Rim protector who runs the floor, and shoots the 3. His past two games he went for 20 and 15 and 25 and 8 all the while swatting two shots in each game. Zach Edey and Clingan are better suited for the “old” NBA. Miami has their center of the future in Ware. They also have a budding superstar in Tyler Herro. Remember when Portland didn’t want him in the Lillard trade? Miami is now adding future draft capital all the while they remain set up to have a massive amount of cap space in 2026. If Giannis decides he wants a trade in the future…… Looks to me like Miami might be set up perfectly to make that happen.
Houston as better assets to get Giannis. They have the Suns picks they look great right now along with young talent.
If the Bucks get Lavine or Beal the better be getting at least one first round pick in the deal. I assume the would be trading Kris and I still don’t like that deal.
I called this months ago: the trade deadline moves this year will just be 1 giant, like, 20-team trade.
This is not a good move for the suns. There’s only one ball. You already have two all stars. What they need is some good role players not another headcase allstar.