Jimmy Butler may have just made it easier for the Miami Heat to trade him

Jimmy Butler might have just made things easier for the Miami Heat to find a deal before Thursday’s trade deadline.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Butler has told the Heat that if the front office gets close to a deal, he’d be willing to have a conversation with teams that ask for permission to speak with him about his future.

“To date, no team has asked for permission,” added Haynes.

Here’s the full report:

Sources: Jimmy Butler’s camp has repeatedly told Heat he’s in shape, healthy and ready to continue his career and move past this immediately. Their messaging to Heat has been to negotiate best deal possible and once in red zone, if that team is granted permission by MIA to speak with Butler’s rep to discuss his longterm future, that dialogue would be welcomed. To date, no team has asked for permission.

So what does this mean for Butler?

This could be taken as Butler backing off previous suggestions that he would not accept a deal to teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. 

Butler, above all else, wants to maximum contract extension. The Phoenix Suns have clearly indicated that they are prepared to offer that extension. But the Suns have had a hard time constructing a deal to land Butler, in large part because it would require sending Bradley Beal to a third team. Beal has a no-trade clause in his contract that gives him the ability to veto any trade.

If Butler has come to the conclusion that the Suns are unable to facilitate a trade, then he would need to be open to continuing his career with another team. At least for the rest of this season, after which he can opt out of his contract for next season and explore his options in the summer.

What does this mean for the Heat?

It could make it easier for them to find a trade partner now that Butler has signaled a willingness to play for a team besides the Suns. The Warriors have explored a Butler deal and, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, may be ready to offer a package built around Andrew Wiggins and draft picks.