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/XÂ here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
Jimmy turned into the diva he supposedly hates. No wonder the team probably doesn’t want him back.
Among Jimmy Butler’s transgressions, according to league sources, have been multiple instances of Butler skipping out on morning shootarounds altogether and insisting on private flights separate from Miami’s team charter.
He should change the name of his company to BIG HEAD COFFEE
I’m no fortune teller, but if he returns, I can see many suspensions in his future.
This could get ugly. And every day it seems like another potential trade avenue closes. The league has pretty clearly stated, other than Phoenix, that no one values your service quite as much as you do. I get it he has to be his own best advocate, but he tested the waters and they are not flowing. Time for Jimmy to reassess. Meanwhile, every day it seems more apparent that Jimmy’s joy really comes from dollar signs. And that’s the part I have trouble with. Teams would definitely trade for him, and he could get his last hurrah on a team far more poised to go deep, but he has to lower his ask, unless this was never about joy anyway.
Good to see you came back. I missed you and I am sorry I got a little unfriendly before.
At this point Jimmy is who he is, a player with a big ego, bigger then his big head coffee. None of us should be surprised because he did this with other teams, and now looking for a 5th team, while nuking other teams that might want him. He is a hypocrite and it is disappointing because I have Jimmy butler shirt….idk if I will ever put that shirt on again. Maybe I’ll give it away, use it as dirty cloth, or just won’t wear it for a long time.
Thanks. I didn’t help the situation, so I’m sorry. Glad to be back. Like any good family (Heat fam) we argue but when trouble strikes (Jimmy’s bitch ass) the bat signal goes up and we unite. Let’s see what happens next. Interesting times with these two parallel storylines. Jimmy vs the Heat and the 5 1st round picks currently carrying this team.
Temperamental Jimmy Butler may not have played his last game for the Heat
…”Yet increasingly, as the offers come in and the Heat emphatically hang up the phone on each of them, it seems that the two sides may need to come together and go back to work, be that for a few weeks or even a few months. That’s not what everyone expected just a week or two ago, but this trade saga is nothing if not exciting and unpredictable.”
https://allucanheat.com/temperamental-jimmy-butler-may-not-have-played-last-game-heat?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email&sc=e0273490fd355e2c28bdb25751d41af65a4dd80936ff00a80be9866c97887955
From the no sh!t department. Nobody wants to trade for him. That joy story unraveled faster than Weezer’s sweater. He better find his joy asap because Denver is Friday. See you there, Jimmy!
As I suggested in an earlier post, if Jimmy insists on being traded to Phoenix and that trade isn’t possible, he may need to return to the Heat until at least the trade deadline or possibly until the end of the season.
Since he has already said he plans to opt out of his contract at the end of the season, if he does return, he should be relegated to the second unit. The younger developing players, such as Jaquez, Jovic and Johnson, should get playing time priority over him.
If he is not disruptive and gives 100%, he can earn more minutes. If he is disruptive and/or doesn’t give 100%, he should be suspended…repeatedly, if required.
This is no longer about Jimmy’s feelings, greed, preferences or expectations. It’s about what is best for the rest of the team and the fans.
Jimmy has gone from a team leader to a distraction. Because of his selfishness and ego, he has lost the support of the players and many of the fans. It would be best for all concerned if he does not return to the team. Hopefully, Riley can make sure that happens.
Meanwhile, it’s on to L.A. for 2 games before returning home to play Denver on the 17th.
GO HEAT!!!
im off the butler bandwagon for dogging it on the ct.i posted during a game weeks ago i believe he was missing shots on purpose..its nice watching jaime and jovic busting their butt and making a name for themselves.dont think u can have jimmy here anymore.i know if i was a player i wouldnt want that quitter around.
Yup. I agree. On the other hand, Riley isn’t going to let him sit home on his ass collecting a big fat check for doing nothing. If Spo sticks his money-hungry ass on the bench with limited minutes, watching the young guys playing together and having fun without him, he’ll be begging for a trade anywhere. Beggars can’t be choosers. He did it to himself. Stupid is as stupid does. https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/485901129/Emo-Jimmy-Butler
Unfortunately I don’t think he will be begging to be traded anywhere. If that was the case, he would of never told grizzlies and bucks (actual contending teams) not to trade for him. So we just gotta trade him to anywhere that will offer decent to good compensation, before him, and his agent nukes the trade market even more.
how bout the quitter for paul george
Paul George is injury-prone. Since 2020, he has played 56 games or less 4 different times. Between 2020-2023, he played an average of 47 games. That’s the good part.
The bad part, he signed a 4 year, $211,584,940 contract with the Philadelphia 76ers through 2027-2028, including $211,584,940 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $52,896,235.
If Riley is opposed to a long-term commitment to Beal, you can bet he is even more opposed to a long-term commitment to someone who misses more games than Butler.
same salary same type player jim prob little better
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.
Beal and Robinson to Brooklyn, Jimmy to Phoenix, and Simmons, Cam Johnson and Lewis to Miami works.
Phoenix would be happy, Miami maybe. But I don’t know about Nets and Bradley.
You summed it up well with that last sentence. Unfortunately I don’t see any reason why the Nets would do it.
I am afraid that unless a miracle happens and they pull of some 3 or 4 team trade, we will be stuck with Jimmy and he might even opt in for the next season…
yup, I agree with Sharkey. Every 3-team trade ends with the sentence “why would a third team want Bradley Beal”. I think it says a lot about Jimmy’s trade value that the only player being discussed as a potential trade partner is a player that nobody wants.
All that said, I really don’t want to see Jimmy back in a Heat uni. The past few games have been so much more fun without him. Maybe we could find another role with him in the organization? He could file some paperwork, maybe some light janitorial duties?
Oh, I know. Coffee time!!!!!!
Nets don’t want Butler. Why would they want Beal? He’s coming back to the team whether we like it or not. He obviously didn’t think this thing through. If I was him I would fire my agent. Oh well, that sounds like a personal problem.
I still think a trade to Denver is possible. Butler for Michael Porter plus Zeke Nnaji works on paper. Dude is 6’10” and plays small forward. Pretty impressive front line of Ware (7′), Bam (6’9″) and Porter (6’10”), plus backcourt of Herro (6’5″) and Jaquez (6’6″). Strong supporting cast with choice of: Rozier, Robinson, Highsmith, Jovic, Burks, Johnson, Richardson, Larsson, Nnaji, Love.
I agree that Denver is the sleeper team. But does Miami want him on the books for a few years?
Better Porter than Beal. Plus Porter’s contract doesn’t have a no-trade provision.