Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat might be heading for a split in the near future. On December 10, rumors emerged around the Association that the Heat organization is open to trading their six-time NBA All-Star to a destination of his choice. Bulter is a Texas native and according to ESPN insider Shams Charania, two Texas teams are on his radar.
Butler, 35, has led the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances and is averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 17 games this season. He’s also shooting a career-high 65.2 percent on true shooting percentage, and he’s still considered a good defender. Although the NBA veteran still has a strong affinity for Miami, according to ESPN, he’s expected to opt out of his $52.4MM player option for the 2025/26 season and become a free agent next summer. Since the Heat doesn’t want to lose Bulter for nothing, they’re willing to listen to trade options.
“The Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right, league sources told ESPN,” Charania wrote. “And Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that Butler is open to destinations such as two of the Texas teams (Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks) and the Golden State Warriors.”
Which team would be the best fit for Jimmy Butler? Let’s examine the options. Given that Butler grew up in Tomball, TX, which is about 36 miles from Houston, joining the Rockets would be a great choice if he wants to stay close to home. So who would the Rockets, who are off to a hot 16-8 start and are sitting third in the Western Conference, would have to give up for Butler? According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Rockets are unwilling to trade any of their core players, which include starters Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet and off the bench, Tari Eason and Amen Thompson are considered ‘untouchable.’ So that leaves the veterans. Steven Adams is earning $12.6 million, Jeff Green is making $8 million, and Jae’Sean Tate is on a $7.57 million contract, all of which are expiring. Jock Landale is also on an $8 million non-guaranteed salary for next season. The key person on the Rockets’ roster is Jabri Smith. It’s rumored that Houston could deal with the former No. 3 overall pick, it’s just a matter of who. Would Butler fit into the Rockets’ plans? If they traded Butler for Smith, I believe he would. However, if I were the general manager, I wouldn’t trade my young core.
Let’s take a look at the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs are just a year removed from the NBA Finals, and they made a significant move this offseason by signing veteran guard and former Splash Brother Klay Thompson. So far, that decision appears to be ok. Currently, the Mavs have a record of 16-8 and are positioned just behind the Rockets in the standings, but they could be better and Dallas believes Butler can make them better. According to the HoopsHype Podcast, the Mavericks have reportedly held interest in Butler since before he was even traded to the Heat in 2019. According to a report from Yardbarker, the Dallas Mavericks would need to make significant moves to acquire Jimmy Butler, whose salary is $48.7 million. To facilitate this trade, the Mavericks would likely have to part with several key role players, including P.J. Washington with a contract worth $15.5 million, Daniel Gafford at $13.4 million, Maxi Kleber earning $11 million, and Naji Marshall, who has a $9 million contract. In addition to these player adjustments, Dallas would also need to include one or two draft picks to successfully match Butler’s salary. If this hypothetical trade were to occur, it would allow the Mavericks to maintain their core lineup, which includes Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Dereck Lively II.
Now his last option; the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have already surprised many this NBA season, and if they were able to add Butler to their roster, they would become an even stronger team. Currently, the Warriors have a record of 14-9 and are positioned fifth in the standings, just behind the Mavericks. With Klay Thompson out and Draymond Green not performing at his usual level, it may seem like Steph Curry is carrying the team by himself. However, if you look deeper into the Warriors’ season, you’ll notice that Coach Kerr has the team playing at a high level collectively. They’ve managed to win games even without Steph and have also secured victories when he’s had off nights. The Warriors replaced Klay with Buddy Hield, and while there may be gaps in defense, Hield has stepped up offensively. He is currently averaging 14.5 points per game and shooting 40% from beyond the arc. Additionally, the team is playing strong defense, ranking ninth in the league according to ESPN. If they add Butler, their defensive performance is likely to improve. So, who does the Warriors have to give up to get Butler? According to an article on Heavy, the four Warriors that could be on the trading block are Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II. Contractually, Kuminga will be a restricted free agent this summer and he declined the rookie-scale extension before the season. According to The Athletic, Golden State offered him a deal worth about $30 million annually, but Kuminga wanted something close to a max contract. Melton signed a one-year deal for the $12.8 million midlevel exception last summer. Moody currently is earning $12.5 million and Payton II exercised his $9.1 million player option for the 2024–2025 NBA season, but he’s still eligible for a trade. They could also throw in Andrew Wiggins and his $26.3 million contract and some draft picks if they need to.
The countdown to the trade deadline on February 6 is on, and the Miami Heat are ready to shake things up. Rumors are swirling that they might let go of their superstar if the “right” offer comes knocking. Jimmy Butler has shared his top three preferred teams—will one of them step up and make a move? As the deadline draws nearer, all eyes are on the Heat and the thrilling possibilities ahead. We’ll see what happens next.
