Even though he is expected to return Friday from a seven-game suspension, there is still plenty of uncertainty regardless of Jimmy Butler’s future with the Miami Heat less than three weeks away from the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Multiple teams were allegedly told not to trade for the 35-year-old star, who owns a $52 million player option for next season, including the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. Though according to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, Butler’s camp hasn’t completely ruled the Bucks out of the picture.
“And while it remains unclear which teams are truly willing to get into the Butler business, two league sources insisted that the Milwaukee Bucks have not, contrary to reports, been told by Butler’s camp that he doesn’t want to play there,” Amick’s report read.
“While the Bucks ended Sacramento’s seven-game winning streak on Tuesday night and have won 20 of their last 29 games (including the NBA Cup finale), Giannis Antetokounmpo was sure to highlight their 0-8 record against the top-three teams in the East after Sunday’s one-sided loss to New York. That sort of messaging, one could argue, should compel Milwaukee to keep the option open as the deadline nears.”
Any Jimmy Butler Trade Involving Bucks Is Complicated:
Given his checkered past, injury history, age and contract, any Butler trade will be complicated.
At this point, anyone and their grandmother could tell you that Butler wants to get paid. Him not receiving an extension last offseason is the biggest crux as to why the turmoil between he and the organization has amassed as big as the Eiffel Tower. Sure, there may be other external factors, but it boils down to greenbacks. And the Phoenix Suns appear to be the only team willing to pay Butler the full max, which is why there’s mutual interest.
Nevertheless, trying to figure trades to get Butler to either Milwaukee or Phoenix would have to include a third team considering both Milwaukee and Phoenix are above the second apron. Phoenix must find a willing suitor for Bradley Beal, who would also need to accept because of his no-trade clause, while the Bucks would need to shave nearly $6 million to aggregate salary to acquire Jimmy Butler.
It’s possible, just not easy. That doesn’t take into account that Milwaukee has to be willing to add Butler to its core of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. As the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee is currently two games ahead of the Miami Heat (20-19) at 22-17 and 3.5 games back of the New York Knicks. Milwaukee wants to maximize its core right now, but there’s still no telling if interest is mutual with Butler.
Do you think the Bucks should pursue a Jimmy Butler trade? Do you believe there’s smoke to this rumor? Let us know in the comments!
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Interesting article about Riley.
Pat Riley would be wise to take his own advice with Heat’s Jimmy Butler saga unresolved as suspension ends
“Riley is a stubborn, impressive man. It is, always, his way or the highway…Times change. The world evolves whether you evolve with it or not. Trophy cases can collect dust–but still convince those who earned them their way is the only way. And The Disease Of More, long building, can infect even those smart enough to have coined the phrase in the first place.”
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/pat-riley-would-be-wise-to-take-his-own-advice-with-heats-jimmy-butler-saga-unresolved-as-suspension-ends/
It would be nice if the Heat could get a starting caliber two-way PG and a rotation caliber two-way PF/C out of the Butler trade.
Butler for Dame straight up LFG!
According to Nic Rohloff of Chat Sports, it would be a lot simpler for the Bucks than the Suns to get under the second apron by moving Pat Connaughton and his reasonable $9 million to another team. That would allow them to do an aggregated trade to the Heat.