Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Heat ‘Don’t Like Their Hand Right Now At All’

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 5, 2025

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The Miami Heat “don’t like their hand right now at all” when it comes to a trade involving star Jimmy Butler, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Windhorst reported on SportsCenter that the Heat have “definitely gotten a lot of calls” on Butler, but rival teams are playing serious hardball.

“Right now, I think you’re seeing a lot of teams testing just how low they might be able to buy Jimmy Butler for,” the NBA insider said. “The one exception to that would be the Phoenix Suns and sort of the irony of this situation is the best fit and most aggressive team for Jimmy Butler is maybe the one out of the 29 teams that has the hardest time getting him, that’s the Phoenix Suns.

“The only functional way they have to get him is Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause and the Heat two years ago when he wanted to go there, rejected. So, that would take a third or potentially fourth team, and those deals are very hard to put together. It’s going to be a lot of talking and a lot of complicated maneuvering.”

The dilemma for the Heat is that their leverage may not improve much between now and the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline when everyone knows Butler wants out.

Following Thursday’s 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers, he said he has lost his “joy” on the court and probably won’t rediscover it in Miami.

Windhorst and ESPN colleague Shams Charania quickly followed up to report he’s “open to playing anywhere other than Miami and believes he can make any team a contender.”

The Heat, for their part, have moved past diplomacy with their disgruntled six-time All-Star by suspending him for seven games.

Miami HEAT @MiamiHEATThrough his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.

Windhorst reported Miami “really didn’t like any of the offers” it was getting on Butler before, and that’s when team president Pat Riley and general manager Andy Elisburg were negotiating from a position with at least some strength. Butler hadn’t made things this awkward, and Riley was maintaining publicly the franchise didn’t plan on moving the veteran.

At this point, opposing GMs will see any posturing by the Heat as just that. Surely they can’t keep Butler past the trade deadline and risk the dynamic getting worse from here.

In a no-win situation, ripping the bandage off and trading the 35-year-old at a loss could be the least bad option the table.