Amid a 12-10 start and their first three-game win streak of the season, the Miami Heat are “open to listening to offers” for star forward Jimmy Butler, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Tuesday.
According to Charania, there are currently three destinations that Butler is open to being moved to: The Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets.
“The Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right, league sources told ESPN,” Charania wrote Tuesday. “Above all, though, he is believed to prefer a win-now title contender in any trade. Teams have also been informed that Butler intends to opt out of his deal in the offseason and become a free agent, sources said. The Heat have hovered around the play-in tournament over the last two seasons, and with Butler’s contractual status, they have been open-minded to trade inquiries.”
Butler, 35, is averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals, shooting 55.7 percent from the floor, 36.0 percent from 3-point range (1.5 3PA; very low volume) and 78.7 percent from the free-throw line, which would be his worst since 2013-14, his third NBA season with the Chicago Bulls.
This shouldn’t come as new news. Butler has been linked to those three franchises since the summer, whether there was any legitimate traction or not. His team also confirmed that he wouldn’t immediately sign an extension upon being traded to another destination.
Butler has a $52.4 million player option next that he can opt out of if he chooses to, hoping to secure out one last big payday. He’s had a rather inconsistent–albeit efficient–start to 2024-25, but in the off-chance that Butler either gets hurt or has a poor rest of the season, he could opt into that deal. For now, that route appears unlikely.
Miami is one of the NBA’s more tight-lip organization, so you can’t help but wonder if another organization–perhaps someone from one of the three–is leaking this info. But assuming there’s truth to this rumor, it still doesn’t mean that the Heat will trade their 35-year-old star.
Teams do their due diligence on their “non-untouchable” players more often than we’d like to admit, especially if they’re on an expiring or will be entering the last year of their deal the following seasons; those players have a price, including Butler. Whether teams have the means to meet said price is a completely different story–and that is what we’ll find out heading into the trade deadline and perhaps next offseason (if Butler opts in).
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So it’s finally out. But still just “hearing out” offers. That seems to be cautiously handling the situation coz Heat is trending upwards but yet franchise future is very much on its sights. Very delicate. Riley you got this.
Yup. Just hoping whatever happens is best for Butler and the team.
Yup. In my perfect world lol…Jimmy stays and plays 70 games, be the boogieman again in playoffs and win it all. A guy could wish you know 😜
They must grow some great stuff in Manila. 😆😆
Baguio Gold Lemon Pie.
The fact that Jimmy is reported to prefer one of three three teams to be traded to: Houston, Dallas or Golden State, leads me to believe his agent (Bernie Lee) is talking to Charania in order to stir up interest and drive up Butler’s value in order to put pressure on Riley to pay Butler what he wants. With the recent upswing in Jimmy’s/ the team’s performance, he/Lee may have been encouraged to press the issue now rather than wait until later when a possible injury or drop in performance might negatively impact his value.
Either way, it will be interesting to see what kinds of offers come in. If Riley can take one step back and two steps forward by trading him, he just may do it. Houston and Golden State have some interesting assets (young players and draft picks) to trade. For example, in addition to young players, Golden State has it’s first round draft picks (2025-2029) while Houston has players plus two first round picks in 2025, three in 2027, one in 2028, two in 2029 and one each in 2030-2031.
One thing seems apparent, the way the team is now playing, even if Jimmy is traded for a lesser player/players and picks, the bottom of the Eastern Conference is so weak the likelihood of the Heat falling to 11th place or lower is very low. If the Heat finishes 9th or 10th, it has a chance to make the playoffs. If it makes the playoffs, it will lose it’s 2025 first round pick to OKC. If Jimmy is not traded, opts out and signs elsewhere and Miami makes the playoffs, the 2025 draft pick will be lost as well, potentially, multiple players and draft picks.
We are back to square one. Riley must plan on keeping Jimmy and doing everything possible to bolster Miami’s roster before the trade deadline in order to compete for a championship, this year -or- he must trade Jimmy for everything he can get and plan for the future after Jimmy is gone.
One consolation, if Miami does trade Jimmy, it may give Spo a chance to play Keshad Johnson more. I have a feeling he, not Jaquez, may have the best shot at becoming Butler 2.0. Time will tell.
P.S. Trading Butler for Brooks, Adams and a couple of first and second rounders works for me.
Good analysis. I think its a bit too early, till last week Jimmy and Heat were pretty bad. We will see. I trust Heats FO to do the right move at the right time.
Thanks Vagi. I think both sides are posturing, which creates an opening for all contending teams to submit their best offers. Keep in mind, other top Western Conference teams (OKC, Memphis, Denver, Clippers, etc,) don’t want one of these three teams to gain an advantage over them so they may also have attractive offers.
Warriors would necessitate other teams getting involved. They are already over the second apron. Like the Heat, they can’t take in one cent more than they send out. Unlike the Heat, they can’t even send out multiple players to the Heat get Butler. If Houston, I’d hope we also get one of their promising young players like Thompson or Smith. (After reading other comments here and elsewhere, I see Warriors are not over second apron? My bad.)
No team is trading any sort of first round pick for an often injured 35 year old, who can leave after this year.
Totally disagree. A team like those mentioned will put all its chips on the table if they believe Butler is the one piece that could get them a ring. And he’s proven that he still can be a dynamic force in the playoffs, especially if he’s the second or third option.
Of those teams mentioned, there’s simply no trade that makes any bit of sense, financially or talent wise. So if its not a contender, no team will trade a first round pick for somebody who won’t be there next year. Mostly for that reason, I don’t see a trade happening.
I agree 100% RC. Jimmy’s playoff experience is priceless for a young, inexperienced team like Houston or OKC.
You must not understand today’s NBA. There are several teams who would like to get Butler. Especially teams that have a ton of young players and draft picks (Houston, OKC, etc.).
Houston is not nearly good enough for an all in trade and give up some young talent. I don’t see OKC messing with the roster before they know what it’s capable of. Anymore?
Houston is 2.5 games out of first place and is likely to remain a top 4 team in the west. They have the assets and the reason to make a trade. I agree about OKC being unlikely.
I had a recent business conversation with someone who told me he was located in Houston, so we began talking basketball. When I mentioned minor rumors about Butler possibly going to Houston, he said fans there would be extremely excited by that prospect. Certainly, only one man’s opinion, but I think many there would feel similarly.
I just don’t see them being a “Jimmy Butler away from being a contender.” Would the Heat take back Brooks, Adams and Jeff Green and maybe a First? Does losing that depth really make a huge difference for the Rockets?
One playoff run with Playoff Jimmy could undoubtedly make a huge difference for them.
Mikal Bridges is a younger player than Butler and has had better availability. However, Butler’s stats this season across the board are better than Bridges and at least right now, anyone being objective would understand that Butler is the more impactful player at this moment, though Bridges is certainly solid. The Knicks gave up 3 players, 4 unprotected first round picks, another top 4 protected first round pick, and a second round pick. Last year, Jae Crowder (JAE CROWDER!!) was traded for 5 second round picks. You don’t think Butler will bring at least 1 first round pick plus players? I’m fine if you don’t like him or have concerns with his recent health issues, but if he becomes available, he would be the most sought after (available) player in the league. At worst, he is still a top 30 player in the league.
Houston has the number two defense in the NBA, behind only OKC. They are in third place in the Western Conference, .5 game behind Memphis and 2.5 behind first place OKC. Are you seeing a pattern here? They have 7 players scoring in double figures (at over 11 points per game). Their young center, Sengun, has better stats than Bam (18.5 ppg/10.6 rpg/ 5.3 apg), They have so much depth that young studs like Cam Whitmore and Reed Shepard get minimal playing time. They have an excellent coach in Ime Odoka. What they lack is extensive playoff experience and veteran leadership.
If Butler replaced Dillon Brooks, that would immediately make Houston a contending team for the NBA Championship. Especially if all it costs them is Dillon, Steve Adams, a salary filler and a couple of draft picks.
In addition, Butler is much more likely to sign an extension with Houston, (his home town), than with any team other than Miami.
I see Houston as exactly the type of team that is close to having what they need to shoot for a championship this season. I can respect a different opinion than we have, but if someone doesn’t see that A) Butler might be the piece that puts them over the top and B) that Butler is still one of the better players in the league, then I have to wonder if there is some agenda I’m not aware of.
Celtic fan?
Nope no agenda, don’t believe me? How about the Rockets GM, now I know no GM is going to come out and say “we will try and trade for Jimmy” but he did say “We definitely do not intend to change [our roster] and I would be shocked if something changes this season.” You can call it posturing but I believe him
That may turn out to be perfectly true, but it wasn’t my main point. My point was more about the value Butler would have to another team and that he would bring a pretty solid return if he was traded.