The Jimmy Butler trade saga received more clarity before Thursday’s win against the Orlando Magic. Pat Riley released a statement on the matter, where he firmly stated that the organization “is not trading” the franchise star.
The remarks from the team president shut down any further speculation from the Heat’s side. However, Butler and his camp have not commented since, and he will remain away from the team over the next two games as he works to get back to game conditioning after missing time with an illness. Riley’s strategic statement now shifts all of the pressure to Butler.
For him to get moved, he will have to start making things ugly. His availability issues could be just the first wave of this as he and Miami are still far apart on contract talks right now. But if a disgruntled and disruptive Butler arises and he begins to force his way out, there are two trades that could work out for both parties involved.
A familiar NBA Finals foe has what the Miami Heat are looking for to kick off a post-Jimmy Butler era.
The Denver Nuggets have been rumored to be shopping Michael Porter Jr., and he is an intriguing option that could help Miami retool rather than rebuild. He is 26 years old— right between both Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro’s age gap. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 51.7% shooting.
His frame and length would provide the Heat with much needed size out on the wing, and be a versatile option at either of the forward positions under coach Erik Spoelstra. For Butler, landing alongside Nikola Jokic can put him in a win-now position and get that change of scenery, if that’s what he opts to do.
A swap headlined between the two players would need some salary fillers from Denver to make it work financially.
Another young star that is far apart on contract talks could get involved with the Jimmy Butler saga.
De’Aaron Fox hasn’t reached a contract extension with the Sacramento Kings and has been a marquee name on the trade market. It would be a far more complicated deal, as a Kings and Butler pairing wouldn’t work for either sides timeline. A third team would need to get involved to make it happen.
However, Fox has been linked to Miami, in part with his connection with Adebayo.
It remains to be seen if either Fox and/or Butler will stay on their respective squads past the trade deadline. But a blockbuster three-team trade could put both of the most attractive trade market names on new franchises. Perhaps a team like the Phoenix Suns, who are high on Butler and a preferred destination of his, could get involved and help maneuver this deal.
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I’m just gonna say that I’ve been watching Pat Riley for 25 years and I’ve never heard him comment on a rumor. Shaq. LeBron. D-Wade. Some of the greatest players of all time. Never happened.
I’ve also seen Pat Riley pull off some amazing trades out of nowhere. Dragic. Tim Hardaway. The 15-player trade for J-Will and Antoine Walker.
I don’t know what is happening with Pat Riley and Jimmy Butler right now, but I know that it’s personal. Pat didn’t like all these trade rumors midseaon. At this point, there are only three possible outcomes. Listed in order of my expected likelyhood:
Whatever is going on, it’s now personal for Pat
I think both men like to assert their need to be in control. But, I have no idea where this is going. So far, nothing is happening that is good for the Heat, as Jimmy isn’t playing, and no moves are going on. The only thing that may have started is a Jimmy partial sit out of games:
My guess from here is, Pat does nothing, and continues to sit on his hands and not perform his GM duties. And Jimmy will miss more games than he should.
Tough, but interesting time to root for a mediocre team that could be so much better, either now or in the coming years, if the right moves were made.