Not everything is joyous around the holidays, especially down in South Beach.
Jimmy Butler‘s time in Miami is seemingly nearing an end as the superstar reportedly prefers a trade away from the heat ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday.
Trade speculation around the forward has grown in recent weeks since Charania first reported that the Heat were “open to listening to offers” for the star’s services.
Charania added that Butler is open to joining contenders via trade, such as the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, with the Phoenix Suns apparently at the top of his list for trade destinations.
However, Charania clarified that Butler hasn’t formally requested a trade from the Heat, rather that he believes he is ready to leave the team.
Butler, 35, has a $49-million cap hit this season and has a $52-million player option for the 2025-26 season, which he reportedly intends to decline to become a free agent come the off-season.
The six-time All-Star’s production hasn’t hit his normal highs this season, as he’s averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game in 31.4 minutes a night. He has missed seven games this season, including Miami’s last two.
Butler has guided Miami to the post-season in each of his five seasons with the team, but wasn’t able to play in last year’s first-round loss to the Boston Celtics due to an MCL sprain. The Heat made it to the NBA Finals in 2019-20 and 2022-23.
Over his 14 years in the NBA, Butler has been on an All-NBA team five times, an All-NBA defender five times and won the 2014-15 Most Improved Player award while suiting up for four franchises.
The Heat have been a middling team of late, going 5-5 in their last 10 games. They carry a 14-13 record into Christmas and sit sixth in the Eastern Conference.
