The hamster wheel of the Jimmy Butler trade rumors continued to spin Monday.
According to ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks, a former executive in the league, there is a growing sentiment that Butler will remain with the Heat past the trade deadline unless a can’t-refuse-offer comes across their desk.
“As for Butler’s future, there is a growing consensus among the teams I talked to that unless the six-time All-Star becomes a distraction, or the Heat receive a trade offer they cannot turn down, Butler will be on the Heat’s roster once the deadline passes,” Marks wrote.
This isn’t new news.
It was reported in early December that the Heat were open to listening to offers for Butler, who owns a $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
He’s been linked to several destinations–most notably the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets–but no reporting has suggested the Heat have fielded any offers that were can’t refuse options up to this point.
Heat insider Ethan Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports has reported on several occasions that Miami isn’t shopping Butler–just listening to offers, which falls in line to Charania’s original reporting.
Marks has previously highlighted that the Heat were in the “driver’s seat” with Butler’s situation since there are hardly any realistic suitors for the 35-year-old six-time All-Star if he chooses to opt out next summer. That doesn’t mean one won’t emerge, however, but the Heat currently appear to be in full control.
If a desperate offer doesn’t approach Miami’s desk, the likelihood of him being with the Heat remains high. That is and has been the reality for the last several months, and that viewpoint doesn’t appear to be shifting anytime soon.
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I think this holding onto Jimmy is just a negotiating ploy.
But, perhaps part of it is there may be some GM’s who have a disinclination to work with Riley. It certainly seems like it after an off-season that brought in only Alec Burks. I don’t know how many teams had a less active summer, but I doubt many. Whatever the reason, many trades have fallen thru, and not too much has happened except the Rozier acquisition, over the last few years. Most of our roster turnover has been adding from our development program for players that left. It seems like the inmates have been running the asylum since then and Riley has been paralyzed in inaction.
This holding onto Butler is not in the Heat’s best interests, maybe only Jimmy’s. I hope this doesn’t happen that he is still a part time Heat player past the deadline.
I believe Jimmy should go, because of the benefit of the team and a benefit of him, but its just too much money and too much restrictions involved.
I read the other day a trade to LAL for Hachimura, Russell and Vincent and some draft picks around 2030.
From players side, I m not sure any of them could be a long time option for Heat. And those picks are not particularly useful today.
no thanks to that deal