While Jimmy Butler’s trade request on Thursday may have opened up the theoretical market, there still has been difficulty from the Miami Heat to find a realistic suitor with a good asking price over 72 hours later.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Heat are doing their best to minimize any long-term salary being taken back in a Butler trade, prioritizing 2026 and beyond.
“The Heat are known to be seeking a [Jimmy Butler] trade that requires them to take back the smallest possible amount of guaranteed money beyond this season,” Stein wrote Sunday. “Which is among the reasons there’s been no shortage of pessimism in circulation about a deal materializing quickly.
“With Golden State now said to be backing off an expected run at a Butler trade, per a report from The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Marcus Thompson II and Sam Amick, pinpointing potential destinations for the suspended Heat star has only gotten more challenging.”
Butler’s request to play “anywhere other than Miami” theoretically helps the Heat in the sense that it doesn’t completely kill his trade value. Though any trade request will certainly lower it, especially if that player is making his fourth unfortunate exit from his fourth organization in less than a decade, which Butler is presumably doing.
It’s also difficult to pull off trades in today’s NBA economy with players making $45 million or more–as I note here; it’s especially hard to do it in-season.
Butler is contract for approximately $48 million this season with a $52.4 million player option for the 2024-25–all indications point to him opting out. Though the market may suggest he opt-in, especially since he can only a max of 65 games if he doesn’t miss anymore.
Deals typically get done when there’s urgency from both sides; outside of the Feb. 6 deadline, we don’t know if there’s a proverbial clock that they would like to get a deal done. Is it the six-game suspension? Is it at the end of the month? Is it just hours before the deadline? That’s the looming question.
Not taking back any long-term salary is smart–unless you know that player will be productive for you in the interim. But one could assume the Heat don’t want to have flexibility next summer and not be straddled near any apron if they don’t have to–especially without Butler.
All it takes is for one phone call to get the ball rolling, but the exchange in between those ticking seconds will matter most–for 2025 and beyond.
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Pats players become untradable because Pat is inflexible in his negotiations. Are we going to get more when he walks? Pats ego is always in the way lately. It paralyzes him. And this time it’s going to get really uncomfortable, maybe ugly, if he stays Pat, which seems to be his only default move. .