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Jimmy Butler has become the center of trade rumors, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting earlier in December that the Miami Heat star is likely to decline his $52 million player option for the 2025-26 season, hitting free agency this summer, and that the team is “open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right.”
A trade may still be unlikely, however.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, “there is a growing consensus among the teams I talked to that unless the six-time All-Star becomes a distraction, or the Heat receive a trade offer they cannot turn down, Butler will be on the Heat’s roster once the deadline passes.”
Charania noted that Butler’s preferred trade destinations include the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks) and Golden State Warriors, but that “above all, though, he is believed to prefer a win-now title contender in any trade.”
ESPN’s NBA insider later added the Phoenix Suns to that list:
Given that he likely will opt-out of his deal, however, it’s possible he will only be a short-term rental. That, in turn, could make teams less inclined to offer optimal trade packages to the Heat for the veteran forward, who is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 55.2 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three.
Miami, meanwhile, could still sign him to a two-year, $112.6 million extension, though they only have until June 30 to make that deal. It would be a significant financial commitment to a player who is already 35, especially for a Heat team that doesn’t appear to be a title contender as presently constructed.
Losing him for nothing after the season would be an even worse outcome, though that scenario may not be terribly likely. Anything that carries into the summer would likely result in either a new deal with the Heat or a sign-and-trade elsewhere.
“Miami has to do what is best for them, not what is in the best interest for Butler,” a Western Conference executive told Marks.
After Charania’s report earlier in December, Butler told reporters that money wasn’t his main concern at this stage in his career, though he didn’t outright say he wants his future to be in Miami either when asked.
“I’m pretty sure y’all are going to get a report that’s going to say otherwise anyways, so there’s no sense in me answering that question,” he said.
“My kids matter, my happiness matters, my well-being matters and my family matters,” he added. “Right now, it’s all about competing, staying healthy, playing some great basketball. I think I’ve done that so far, so we’ll see what we got.”
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