As Butler Eliminates Options, Heat Face Expensive Dilemma

Jimmy Butler was suspended for seven games by the Heat on Friday as the team explores trade offers for the six-time All-Star. However, it seems Miami will not be trading Butler before he is reinstated.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Heat are not satisfied with the offers they’ve received for Butler and are “preparing internally” for Butler to be on the team by the time he’s eligible to play on Jan. 17.

“We’re at a genuine stalemate,” Windhorst said Tuesday on First Take. He added that teams are offering the “pupu platter” for Butler because of his contract. 

The Heat reportedly refused to give the 35-year-old a two-year, $113 million contract extension this past summer, so Butler can be an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he chooses to decline his $52.4 million player option.  

Multiple teams, including the Grizzlies, have been told Butler has “no interest” in being traded to them, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. Yahoo Sports senior analyst Kevin O’Connor reported the Bucks as another team Butler shot down. This would indicate Butler would not sign an extension and would essentially be a half-year rental for any team.

According to Windhorst, Butler’s desired destination is Phoenix—and there’s mutual interest between the two sides. But several factors complicate a trade to the Valley of the Sun. For the money to work, Bradley Beal would need to be involved in a trade—unless the Suns unexpectedly decide to trade Kevin Durant or Devin Booker.

Beal, who was benched Monday for the first time since the 2015–2016 season, has three years left on his deal, including this year, amounting to about $161 million. He also has a no-trade clause—and he told reporters after Monday’s game that the team has not informed him about a potential trade.

“If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards,” Beal said.

Beal was reportedly willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to Miami in 2023 when he was being shopped by the Wizards. The Heat were unwilling to take on the three-time All-Star’s contract. That position hasn’t changed this time around, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Miami will need to find another team willing to take on Beal that can also make the money work—especially because the Suns are second-apron violators. An already narrow field would shrink further since Beal must be willing to waive his no-trade clause for the deal to push through.