The Phoenix Suns have been added to the list of potential Jimmy Butler trade destinations, should the Miami Heat explore that route, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Wednesday. This comes one day after Charania reported that the Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler, who can enter free agency this offseason if he opts out of his $52.4 million player option.
When Charania’s original report surfaced early Tuesday morning, he cited the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets as potential destinations. Those have been rumored for Butler since the summer, with Houston arguably being the most feasible option (for both sides).
Not unlike those three, however, there are serious complications to hypothetically pull off a Butler trade.
The Suns lead the NBA in active cap by nearly $16 million, having $216.6 million on its books for the 2024-25 season. Thus, the Suns are way over the second apron, meaning they can’t aggregate players in a trade nor take back more salary–among several other punitive restrictions.
Miami can’t take back salary, either. They would have to include any one of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant or Bradley Beal in a trade to make the money work; Beal has a no-trade clause.
According to Heat cap expert Brian Goins, the Heat would also have to send a minimum player to a third team because Beal, Durant and Booker make more than $48.7 million, Butler’s cap hit for this season.
Both sides would have to get crafty to pull off any deal, just like they would for any one Houston, Dallas or Golden State.
The Suns are currently 12-11 and tied for the No. 8 seed–with Minnesota and the Lakers–in a tight, loaded West. The Heat, meanwhile, are 12-10, 0.5 game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 5 seed and two games back of the New York Knicks for the No. 4 seed.
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new contender in east atlanta
hawks 6 1 last 7 games .18 offensive rebounds vs nyk .got some youngens long and lean there gonna be a problem
this atlanta has some athletes theyre locking down the knicks
Who’s telling the truth? Shams or Bernie Lee…
Maybe because Heat is rising again as a possible “disruptor” in the east that some teams’ trying to derail them making these claims. They are afraid lol. Maybe we’ll never know I bet Riles will just keep his cards close to his chest. Maybe even keep it inside a locked drawer and not show it at all 😜