The Jimmy Butler saga with the Miami Heat continues to get worse by the day, as the 35-year-old star forward received his second multi-game suspension this week after missing the team’s flight to Milwaukee.
At this point, it’s abundantly clear that neither side wants this partnership to last much longer. And it’s also clear that Butler wants to get moved to a team that’s willing to pay him (the max) this offseason, when he owns a $52.4 million player option.
The one exception is reportedly the Memphis Grizzlies, though it appears they still could be “lurking” as a suitor in the “sweepstakes,” according to ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst.
“The Grizzlies are lurking in Butler trade talks, sources said, and have been in contact with the Heat during the process,” Windhorst wrote. “Rival league executives believe Memphis is trying to combine a talent influx with offloading some future salary so it can facilitate a contract extension for Jaren Jackson Jr. as early as this summer.
“Butler, meanwhile, has made it known that he could opt out of his contract this summer and seek free agency. Sources have theorized that if the Grizzlies can acquire him for a playoff run and also free cap space this summer, that’s where their interests might lie.”
The Grizzlies are projected to have the league’s 10th-highest payroll with Jaren Jackson Jr. eligible for an extension after this season, as well as four other Grizzlies players. They are also in the smallest market in the NBA, so it may not be willing to pay Butler a full max (like most other teams?) if they trade for him for a few months unless he completely outperforms expectations.
Though Memphis has been a consolidation trade away for quite some time now. And this could be their year to strike with Oklahoma City’s big man situation in peril–even though OKC is still a machine–before Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs inevitably storm from the clouds. The Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks are in that conversation, as well. There’s nothing certain in this league, so this could be Memphis’ best opportunity with Ja Morant, Jackson and Desmond Bane, among others.
Regardless, Jimmy Butler’s situation with the Miami Heat is untenable. Even though the Heat would build flexibility below the first apron this offseason, this lasting beyond the Feb. 6 trade deadline would be the worst-case scenario for everyone involved.
Do you think Butler should be considering the Grizzlies? Let us know in the comments!
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Just make the best deal you can make Pat and get it over with. The waiting is like slow death for the players and the fans. This isn’t about pacifying Butler. He burned his bridges in Miami when he quit on the players. At this point, it’s all about getting the best deal you can. If sending him and his “Big Head Coffee” to Toronto or Washington or Utah is what works best for the team…just do it!
A question.
If you have a chance, would you go into big face coffee bar?
Why when we got Starbucks around lol
Hell no! I buy 28oz bags of Starbucks 10 at a time. Good stuff morning and evening. If I was going to buy a cup of coffee, it sure wouldn’t be a Big Head.
what team would want a player that just quits on their team,doesnt give dunc 100% effort when on the ct.i think it sends a bad message to the rest of the team if my owner acquires a player with these characteristics.pats not going to get what he wants if anything we might be stuck with this pos for the rest of the year.
Send him to where he doesn’t want to go, but ironically a better chance of winning than in Phoenix.