In case there was any question about where Jimmy Butler wants to get traded, the latest reporting clears it up.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Butler has communicated to the Golden State Warriors that he is unwilling to sign an extension with the Bay Area franchise. Therefore, trade talks between the Miami Heat and Warriors have ended for now.
Butler has preferred a trade to the Phoenix Suns since requesting a trade on Jan. 2. That didn’t stop other teams from considering trading for Butler, and there was growing speculation over the last several days that Golden State could get involved.
The Warriors’ biggest hangup, per reports, was Butler’s fit in a locker room with Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr. Butler, in this latest twist, may have made their decision for them.
Other teams that have reportedly considered trading for Butler include the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies. Butler has reportedly informed the Grizzlies that he will not sign an extension.
As long as the Suns are unwilling to trade Devin Booker or Kevin Durant, the only path to acquiring Butler is to trade Bradley Beal as matching salary. Beal’s no-trade clause complicates matters.
The Heat reportedly will not trade for Beal as long as he maintains his no-trade clause and, even if the Suns and Heat could find a third team willing to take Beal, Beal has the ability to veto any trade.
It seems the only way a Butler trade gets done before the deadline is if…
- They take Beal in a Suns trade.
- A team acquires Butler prepared to lose him this summer/deal with potential unhappiness.
- Something unexpected happens.
The NBA trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 6.