We’re little more than a week away from the NBA trade deadline, and deadlines have a way of forcing teams to get something done. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Miami Heat have reduced their asking price for Jimmy Butler as they look to turn the page on the situation.
Here’s what Windhorst said on ESPN’s Sportscenter late Monday night:
“From the sources I've been talking to for the last, really 48 hours, but definitely tonight, the Heat's price [for Jimmy Butler] has dropped,” he said. “They are willing to do more than they were when this all started last month. The Heat are trying to get this done.”
The Heat are aggressively shopping Jimmy Butler.
The Heat suspended Butler indefinitely on Monday after Butler left early from morning shootaround after being informed he was being removed from the starting lineup. Butler will be suspended for a minimum of five games, which takes Miami through the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
The Phoenix Suns remain the most motivated team to trade for Butler, but it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that they can find a landing spot for Bradley Beal and facilitate a deal.
The Athletic’s Fred Katz reported on Monday that Beal would not accept a trade to the Chicago Bulls, which had been increasingly mentioned as a potential landing spot in multiple-team constructions.
Finding a team willing to take Beal’s expensive contract and no-trade clause has proved difficult. This has opened the door for other teams to get in the mix for Butler.
“From my discussions with the league—I think some teams that thought they were out of this are coming back in because it doesn't look like the Suns and Heat are going to be able to consummate a deal,” Windhorst said. “I think we might see a team swoop in and get Jimmy at a cheap price.”
Windhorst stopped short of naming which teams could get involved but did add, “This could be a trade that affects the outcome of this season.”
Given that language, it’s fair to assume that contending teams – or teams close to contention – could view Butler as a piece that could push them over the top. Teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies had previously been mentioned as potential suitors.
The Grizzlies have been informed not to trade for Butler, according to multiple reports, but that does not mean they have to listen. Especially if they can acquire Butler’s services at a bargain price.
The Bucks are considered potential buyers before the trade deadline. They reportedly shut the door on acquiring Beal, but adding a player like Butler would certainly be a difference-maker.