It was reported Wednesday that Miami Heat superstar forward Jimmy Butler included the Phoenix Suns as a preferred destination among others in trade talks, according to Shams Charania.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Butler, a six-time All-Star, was recently made available in trade talks from Miami as the two sides were reportedly unable to agree on a contract extension. The 14-year veteran has played in 17 games this season and is averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game for the Heat.
The Phoenix Suns are another team that Jimmy Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that the six-time All-Star is open to as a destination while Miami listens to trade offers, sources tell ESPN, joining Dallas, Houston and Golden State. pic.twitter.com/QCXA2uEMXt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2024
However, in an unprecedented revelation, Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee of Thread Sports Management, denied any notion that Phoenix being on Butler’s radar among other teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.
‘World… all this is fabricated,” Lee said in an X post quoting Charania’s initial report. “I have never and honestly it wouldn’t help me or the position I represent to do anything that’s been reported by said ‘journalist’.”
Charania also said on a live iteration of NBA Countdown to, “keep a close eye on the Phoenix Suns,” as a destination for Butler.
I don’t know what I’m going to do because I’m a middle aged dad but just know it would indicate severe dislike. World… all this is fabricated. I have never and honestly it wouldn’t help me or the position I represent to do anything that’s been reported by said “journalist” https://t.co/1KOXza9SKg
— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) December 11, 2024
Would a Jimmy Butler trade even be possible for Phoenix?
Although the report of Butler’s interest has been shot down by Lee, it is hard to believe that formulating a trade between Phoenix and the forward’s franchise would even be possible considering CBA regulations and Suns guard Bradley Beal’s current no-trade clause.
It’s not impossible, though. Considering that both Phoenix and Miami are tax apron teams, under the current collective bargaining agreement, neither team can take back more money in a trade than they are sending out. This means that any one of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker or Beal’s contracts can legally bring in Butler’s, but the Heat would have to send out more money (presumably a veteran minimum contract) in order to bring in one of the Suns’ Big Three.
In all likelihood, the franchises would need a third team to intervene in order to facilitate the movements of salaries and draft picks.
The trade would look something like this:
Phoenix Suns:
- Receives: Jimmy Butler
- Sends: Bradley Beal, future draft picks and salary fillers (e.g. Josh Okogie or Damion Lee)
Miami Heat:
- Receives: Bradley Beal
- Sends: Jimmy Butler and salary fillers (e.g. Duncan Robinson or Kevin Love)
Third Team:
- Receives: Salary fillers from Phoenix and Miami (e.g. Okogie/Lee and Robinson/Love)
- Sends: Future draft picks
Assuming that Beal would be the one of the Big Three to be traded, the Suns would have to get approval from him to be traded to Miami due to the no-trade clause he got on his contract when extending with the Washington Wizards.
There would be a lot of moving pieces that need to align in order to a Butler-Suns trade to even be possible, never mind the fact that, according to his agent, Phoenix may not even be on Butler’s preferred trade destination list.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
