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Atop this ranking yet again, we seemingly aren’t any closer to a Jimmy Butler trade, even despite all of the drama surrounding the two parties. The most tangible news on the matter came earlier this week when Miami announced yet another suspension for Butler, this one for at least five games. This suspension came after Butler left practice early once he was told he’d be coming off the bench for Haywood Highsmith in his return game from his previous suspension.
With Miami so desperate to get this drama over with, the team reportedly has dropped its asking price for the 35-year-old wing, which could, according to Windhorst, lead to a team landing Butler for cheaper than expected:
During an appearance on the late edition of “SportsCenter” with Scott Van Pelt, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst indicated that the Heat may attach a low asking price to Butler leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. “I am not saying this is for sure gonna happen. I am not predicting what’s gonna happen. But, I do think some teams that thought they were out of this are coming back in because it doesn’t look like the Suns and Heat are gonna be able to consummate a deal,” Windhorst said. “I think we might see a team swoop in here and get Jimmy Butler at a cheap price — a guy who can be the best player in a playoff series at a bargain price. And I think that’s the phase of this where we’re at … this could be a trade that affects the outcome of this season.”
According to Charania, the Heat’s lines have been ‘wide open for several weeks’ for a Butler trade but the team hasn’t gotten an offer yet it deems worthwhile.
With Miami lowering its asking price for Butler, that has led to reports of teams trying to get back in on the sweepstakes for the star player, with the Golden State Warriors being mentioned as one of several teams discussing a Butler trade with Miami. The Philadelphia 76ers were also shockingly mentioned as a potential Butler landing spot, but a deal between the two teams might have to include Paul George. And considering George is under contract until 2027-28 when he’ll earn $56.6 million (at age 37, no less), that rumor seems pretty unlikely to come to fruition. The Bucks are another team to get brought up again as a surprise contender for Butler, with this rumor coming from Stein:
Milwaukee, as you’ve also surely committed to memory by now, can’t combine contracts in any offer for Butler until it first sheds Pat Connaughton’s contract or does so as part of a larger Butler trade construction. If the Bucks find a home for Connaughton, though, packaging Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis would enable them to offer Miami two players who could seemingly boost the Heat’s playoff chances compared to playing game after game without Butler. Those two also hold contracts that end after 2025-26 assuming both players pick up their player options ($34 million for Middleton; $13.4 for Portis) for next season.
According to Begley, the Minnesota Timberwolves are a team to watch for in the Butler situation and also reported on Miami having interest in a Julius Randle trade last summer. Whether that means Butler going back to Minnesota and becoming a Timberwolf once more, or the Timberwolves just being willing to facilitate in a deal as a third or fourth party in order to get back something of value remains to be seen, but Begley said Miami and Minnesota have “been in touch on Butler trades”.
Windhorst, meanwhile, does not believe the Kings are in the mix for Butler as of this moment:
Speaking Wednesday on his Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective podcast (beginning at the 17:09 mark), ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst suggested that the Kings are not in the mix for Butler: “As of the recording of this podcast, I do not believe that Jimmy Butler going to Sacramento is part of the option here. I have my reasons for that. Could change. This podcast is being recorded the day before it’s posting. There’s not been discussion, I think, with the Butler side. Not that that’s absolutely vital, but I can just leave it at that.”
Whatever happens here between Butler and Miami looks like it could come down to the wire until next Thursday’s trade deadline. We could even be in line for an awkward situation in which Butler has to return to the Heat at least until the offseason. Either way, this story has another few chapters left in it.
For the latest Jimmy Butler trade rumors and contract info, click here.
