NBA trade rumors are heating up with several big names reportedly on the block. Chicago’s Zach Lavine and New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram are among former All-Stars who could provide an offensive boost for a new club.
However, the marquee player is Miami’s Jimmy Butler who the Heat are reportedly willing to move in the right deal. Butler and the Heat famously failed to reach a contract extension in the Summer, which raised some eyebrows across the league. Butler, 35, has a player option after this season for $52 million, but he has some motivation to hit the open market and seek a new deal.
With teams jostling for playoff position, there’s no doubt Butler should have plenty of suitors vying for his services. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Butler listed three preferred destinations: Golden State, Houston, and Dallas. Players don’t always go to their preferred landing spot, but let’s look at three potential trades that could land Butler elsewhere
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are spiraling after a 12-3 start. A recent 50-point loss to the Grizzlies was one of the worst efforts of the Curry-Draymond-Kerr era. They were also held to just 90 points in recent defeats to the Timberwolves and Rockets. The Warriors have already been active on the trade market, trading for Brooklyn’s Dennis Schroder to add another playmaker.
Golden State found success early in the season due to depth, but the NBA is a star-driven league. It’s not a surprise that Stephen Curry is having his lowest-scoring season since 2012 in the first year Klay Thompson left. Even an aging and depleted Thompson forced defenses to cover him. There’s no such secondary player on this Warrior roster that garners that sort of respect.
Butler is a solid fit with this group. He thrives on the ball which isn’t a problem for Golden State’s unselfish stars. And, Butler is no stranger to deferring. A deal could potentially be had if the Warriors are willing to part with their young pieces.
Proposed Deal: Butler to Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, and a first-round pick
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets face a similar problem as the Warriors in that they don’t have a reliable No. 2 option offensively. However, it’s an even bigger deal in Denver because they have the best player in the league. Nikola Jokic is on his way to winning a fourth MVP trophy. The Nuggets are just above .500 despite Jokic averaging nearly a triple-double while shooting over 50-percent from beyond the arc.
When Jokic plays, the Nuggets have been as good as ever. They boast a +9.7 net rating with their star center on the floor. That would rank third league-wide behind only the 21-5 Oklahoma City Thunder (+11.9) and the 23-4 Cleveland Cavaliers (+10.3). When he’s off the floor, the Nuggets are a -14.3 — worse than the 4-21 Washington Wizards (-14.0). Jokic leads Denver with 37.2 MPG. In those 10 minutes he’s not playing, the Nuggets have been unfathomably bad.
This isn’t a completely new trend for Denver, but Jamal Murray’s dip in play has certainly made those non-Jokic minutes even more noticeable. Changing an experienced and battle-test group could have lasting effects, but Butler has thrived at every stop. He wouldn’t have much trouble adapting to Jokic’s style of play and would add even more toughness up front next to Aaron Gordon.
Losing Michael Porter Jr. in a potential deal hurts a team that already lacks in three-point volume, but the hope is that Butler’s scoring and playmaking would alleviate any potential issues that would cause.
Proposed Deal: Butler to the Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji, and a first-round pick
Phoenix Suns
This is where it gets interesting. Butler was born in Houston which explains his affinity for the Texas teams. Plus, the Rockets and Mavericks currently sit in the 3rd and 4th spots in the Western Conference playoff picture. However, neither team seems like an ideal landing spot.
The Rockets have had a nice start to the year and an excellent base to build around, but the 36-year-old Butler doesn’t exactly fit their timeline. Dallas would love to add Butler’s two-way ability, but there isn’t a great trade available that wouldn’t gut the Mavericks’ roster of its depth.
Let’s pivot then to another Western Conference team. Could a Butler-for-Beal swap work? Beal has been a solid get for Phoenix. He’s been efficient offensively, is shooting more threes again, and doesn’t seem to mind playing third-fiddle.
However, he’s an average-at-best defender whose playmaking ability has been minimized next to Booker, Durant, and starting point guard Tyus Jones. Butler is a better defender, a better rebounder, and proven in the clutch.
The potential snag here is Beal’s no-trade clause. Would he be excited to go to Miami? That much is uncertain, but if rumors are already circulating around Butler and the Suns, there’s a chance Phoenix might have an idea that they could get Beal to waive his clause.
Proposed Deal: Butler to the Suns for Bradley Beal and a first-round pick
