When Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler requested a trade after Thursday’s disappointing 13-point loss to the Indiana Pacers, Shams Charania’s report specifically stated that he was willing to play “anywhere other than Miami,” after reportedly having just four preferred trade destinations.
One of those four–the Golden State Warriors–have reportedly taken themselves out of the mix for the time being, even though this information is fluid. Another one is the Phoenix Suns, who lead the NBA in team payroll without many vehicles to drive in trade negotiations.
A popular name that has been floated is Bradley Beal, who owns a no-trade clause. Their disinterest in taking on Beal’s contract has been refuted multiple times, and it was echoed again by ESPN Front Office Insider and former NBA executive Bobby Marks on Friday.
“Three out of the four teams on Butler’s preferred list — the Dallas Mavericks, the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns — would need to trade a quarter of their roster,” Marks wrote. “The Suns would need to have Bradley Beal waive his no-trade clause. Sources told ESPN, that the Heat have no desire to take back the $110 million owed to Beal and that Phoenix would need to find a third team. The Warriors and Mavericks probably would need to find a third or fourth team to reroute some of the contracts sent out.”
For one, it’s not legally possible to swap Jimmy Butler and Bradley Beal straight up. Both teams are well above the first apron, meaning they cannot take back more salary than they send out, assuming Beal waives his no-trade clause.
The Heat did not want to trade pennies on the dollar for Beal ahead of the 2023-24 season. So it wouldn’t make logical sense for them to want to facilitate a multi-team trade now when he hasn’t been able to stay healthy nor is better than Tyler Herro, who’s on track to make his first career All-Star game.
Butler would solve a lot for the Suns in terms of what they need both offensively and defensively alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Though the Suns would still need a starting center not named Jusuf Nurkic–arguably their biggest hold–which Butler clearly wouldn’t solve. Barring something unforeseen, it’s not realistic that Butler gets sent to Phoenix unless it’s a multi-team deal that doesn’t include Beal getting sent to the Miami Heat.
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The Trade
Memphis is interested in acquiring Jimmy Butler. I would do this trade in a New York Minute!
Grizzlies could acquire Jimmy Butler in huge deal involving former Celtics stud. Entering Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies were the NBA’s fifth-best team (record-wise) at 23-12.
Grizzlies receive…
Heat receive…
I’ll takes this trade.
Me too!
Butler wants to play in:
Butler might want to play in:
Possible destinations:
Brooklyn, New Orleans, and Washington are tanking. Why any of them would want 35-year-old player? Add Sacramento and Chicago into this group as well to the lesser degree.
Denver needs shooters around Jokic, Porter is good fit for them, Butler not so much.
Sacramento (will not trade Fox) needs to include something like DeRozan and Huerter into deal, will Butler make them better at all?
Chicago wants to develop Buzelis, does it even have sense for them to trade for Butler. If they postpone tanking for few years, will not include LaVine into deal then it must be Lonzo expiring, Patrick Williams bad and long contract, and pick or in the best case Buzelis.
New Orleans needs to do something crazy like Zion + Ingram for Butler + Rozier. After trade they are far from being competitive, why would they do that?