Not-so-breaking news: Jimmy Butler wants out of Miami.
The Heat star has reportedly requested a trade after five-and-a-half seasons with the club, and while president Pat Riley previously made it clear that “we are not trading Jimmy Butler,” a move appears all but inevitable.
After weeks of rumours, and an off-season that didn’t see the organization extend the franchise superstar’s contract, Butler gave a candid assessment of the situation Thursday.
“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball,” the 35-year-old said following a Heat loss to the Indiana Pacers in which he played 27 minutes and took six shots. “Wherever that may be … I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
It was previously rumoured that the six-time All-Star had a shortlist of preferred destinations but the situation has devolved to the point where he’s now reportedly open to playing anywhere but Miami.
So, as the Feb. 6 trade deadline inches closer, let’s explore some potential destinations that might bring the scorned star his “joy” back.
The odds-on landing spot for Butler is the Bay Area. It’s no secret that the Warriors are looking to extend their contending window — hoping to squeeze every last drop out of their dynastic run and Stephen Curry’s brilliance — but at 17-16 and ninth in the Western Conference, they are a far cry from the team that won a title just three seasons ago.
Golden State also has been explicit in its pursuit of adding another star, making runs of varying degrees at the likes of LeBron James, Paul George and Lauri Markkannen in the past couple of months.
Pairing Butler, a capable ball-handler, with Curry’s off-ball movement on offence, and with Draymond Green and the Warriors’ eighth-ranked defence, could be just what the team needs to revitalize its contender status.
The Warriors have a plethora of young prospects — namely Jonathan Kuminga, who’s heading toward restricted free agency and already is reportedly being shopped — and Andrew Wiggins’ contract to make a deal not only feasible but possibly tantalizing enough to get Riley and the Heat to bite.
By no means is a team at 19-13 and fourth in the West struggling, but they don’t present like the 57- and 53-win Nuggets from the last two years.
While Nikola Jokic has remained an MVP favourite, vying for a fourth such trophy, the rest of the squad has been up and down. The Nuggets could use more reliable shot creation outside of the big Serbian and Jamal Murray, so why not consider the guy they saw up close in the Finals three seasons ago?
Denver would likely have to centre a package around Michael Porter Jr. and salary filler, but if it meant taking some of the immense burden off Jokic’s shoulders — the Nuggets’ net rating is -12.9 with him off the floor — they’d probably be willing to consider it.
If the Warriors are doing everything they can to keep their spot in the contender’s circle, the Rockets are trying their best to join the club. And among the teams on Butler’s reported wish list, Houston has the most financial flexibility to make a deal happen.
The Rockets have youngsters like Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard, and a handful of picks and movable contracts in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks that could be used to facilitate a trade.
Now, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has pushed back on any “fireworks” this trade season and the team is reportedly averse to adding any star in their mid-to-late 30s. But, at 22-11 and second in the West, Houston has seemingly turned the corner much sooner than many expected. Pairing a known playoff riser in Butler with ascending star Alperen Sengun, and the Rockets’ No. 2-ranked defence could just accelerate the process even more.
Speaking of playoff risers, imagine a trio of Butler, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — three hoopers known for elevating their games in the most high-stakes moments.
Dallas was among the teams on Butler’s reported list of preferred destinations, and while not desperate to make a move — having done most of its tinkering last year prior to its Finals run, and in the off-season — it could be intriguing for the Mavericks do it anyway.
It feels like an ultimate high-risk, high-reward play. The fit is clunky considering how much all three of Doncic, Irving and Butler need the ball, and Dallas would have to slash its depth — which showed its value last year and has the team fifth in the West this year — to make any deal work financially. On the flip side, however, Doncic is out for at least a month with a calf strain while the Mavericks have lost three of their last four games without him. So, they may quickly get antsy for some assistance
While unlikely, if it were to happen, I doubt any team would feel comfortable taking on that trio in the post-season.
Less likely but still possible landing spots
Brooklyn Nets: When it was reported that Butler believed he could make any team a contender, did he even mean the clearly rebuilding Nets? According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Brooklyn is the star’s preferred destination. The Nets have the most cap space of all 32 teams next season so they could easily give Butler the extension the Heat neglected to. But with Brooklyn in asset accumulation mode and considering the Nets could just sign him as a UFA in a couple months, would they part with prospects and picks to make it happen sooner? It seems far-fetched but this is the same front office that acquired and then re-signed Deron Williams over a decade ago.
Phoenix Suns: Financially, this one is complicated given the new CBA machinations and how cap-strung the Suns are. It would probably need the help of a third team to facilitate a move. It would also likely require moving Bradley Beal, who would have to waive his no-trade clause. But given the Heat were amongst his preferred destinations before Phoenix acquired him, that could be possible. Speaking of preferred landing spots, the Suns were on Butler’s short list and they would gladly have him. He would immediately be an upgrade over Beal on both ends of the floor. The hard part would be putting together a package enticing enough for Riley and the Heat.
Los Angeles Lakers: If there are trade talks, rest assured the Lakers will be mentioned. General manager Rob Pelinka has already gotten to work swapping D’Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith, but that’s hardly the third star fans want to see in L.A. to capitalize on LeBron James’ final years. And given the uncertainty of his future and the Lakers’ contention window, dangling potentially high-value future picks could be enough to lure Butler.
Sacramento Kings: Admittedly, this one doesn’t have a ton of meat on the bones but after firing coach Mike Brown two years after he ended the team’s 17-year playoff drought and was named Coach of the Year, anything seems to be on the table for the Kings. De’Aaron Fox remains reluctant to re-sign with the team as presently constructed and the off-season signing of DeMar DeRozan hasn’t paid off. Could going after Butler be a last-ditch effort to try and keep the star guard around?
