While the Brooklyn Nets are expected to have max cap space heading into next offseason, don’t expect them to pursue Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.
It’s been rumored in the past that Butler curiously had interest in the Nets, who currently own the fourth-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 13-26. But that feeling does seem to reciprocated, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
“Butler needn’t expect the Nets to be a suitor for his services if he goes through with plans to bypass his $52.4 player option with Miami for next season to become a free agent,” Stein wrote. “League sources reiterated to The Stein Line this week that the Nets have no plans to pursue to Butler in free agency.”
The Nets freed roughly $28 million in projected cap space over the last several weeks by trading Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. According to Spotrac, Brooklyn projects to have over $90 million in practical cap space, though HoopsHype cap analyst Yossi Gozlan projects them to have $65 million. Nevertheless, that’s more than enough space, given Butler’s salary for a max will be worth approximately $54.1 million.
As I noted here, the interest in the Heat star never made sense. They are still in the stages of a rebuild, so acquiring Butler, who will be entering his age-36 season, wouldn’t make much sense. Butler wants to get paid, and the New York atmosphere would be excellent for Big Face Coffee, but those two timelines from a basketball perspective couldn’t be further apart.
Brooklyn not pursuing the six-time All-Star could hurt his leverage next offseason if 1.) he’s not traded and elects to opt-out or 2.) the team that acquires him doesn’t want to give him a max.
At this point, it may be best for Butler to play well to build his value back up–it’s not high, clearly–opt-in to his $52.4 million player option and see if he can traded next offseason or by February of 2026. Plenty can happen between now and July, but there’s currently aren’t many suitors with legitimate cap space. A team could do what the Heat did and execute a multi-team sign-and-trade, but that adds extra complications.
Is it worth it? Plus, the Heat were far enough away from the first-apron to pull it off while having enough flexibility to make tangible moves–acquiring Jae Crowder, Andre Iguodala and Solomon Hill for a package spearheaded by an injured Justise Winslow. Butler was a half-decade younger when that occurred; yesterday’s price isn’t today’s price.
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
So it seems like the only team with any interest in Jimmy Butler is the Suns, and the Suns are only willing to trade Bradley Beal for him, and Bradley Beal seems like he’s the only contract in the NBA that is less wanted than Jimmy Butler.
So, unfortnately, Jimmy Butler might be so toxic that he’s untradable. Like Kyrie Irving a couple years ago. Eventualy Kyrie restored his trade value and plays an important role with the Mavs. Maybe Jimmy Butler will get there eventually.
But until then, the Heat might be stuck with Jimmy. that would be a real bummer. This team is so much more fun without him.