The Miami Heat haven’t gotten out to the start they had hoped. Nearly a quarter into the season, they have mostly hovered around .500 as teams like the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic separate themselves in the standings.
League insiders are monitoring the situation, wondering if the Heat will conclude that their championship window has closed. Should that happen, many are wondering if they would go in a younger direction and shop Jimmy Butler.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks have been identified as teams that could have interest in Butler should he become available.
"Within league circles, there’s been quiet discourse about whether the Houston Rockets or Dallas Mavericks will eventually land Butler, a Texas native, should he and Miami decide to part ways. For now, however, the Rockets are among the top teams with a young core, and the Mavericks remain a contender in the tightly competitive Western Conference. It’s also worth noting executives who’ve checked in on Butler got the impression that Miami wants to figure out their star’s future after the season."Michael Scotto, HoopsHype
It’s worth driving that final point home: The Heat have not shown any interest in trading Butler. Even when teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks checked in with the Heat about Butler last season, they were given the impression that he was unavailable. The belief around the league is that the Heat would prefer to play out this season and make a decision on Butler’s future in the summer.
However, a slide down the standings could change Miami’s thinking, especially if the team is several games under .500 closer to the February trade deadline.
In that case, the Heat would have almost no choice but to at least explore the trade market for Butler.
At 35 years old, Butler is showing signs of age. His production has been inconsistent and ankle and back injuries have already impacted the first quarter of his season. The Heat are used to Butler picking his spots in the regular season, but never at this degree. Butler is averaging his fewest points, assists and rebounds since joining the Heat in 2019.
Moreover, the Heat haven’t seen “Playoff Jimmy” since 2023 after a knee injury sidelined him for Miami’s first-round loss to the Boston Celtics last season.
Butler might not be capable of dragging the Heat into the playoffs as a no. 1 option anymore, but he could have a lot of use on a contending team with a top scorer.
The Mavericks, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, could surround Butler with scoring talent so that he could focus on defending, cutting and making plays for others.
The Rockets are a young team with several veteran contracts and prospects to build a package that could appeal to the Heat should they decide to go in a younger direction. Coach Ime Udoka’s respect for Butler is well known, and he values having veterans like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks on the roster to mentor young players like Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and others.
A lot would have to happen before the Heat make that dramatic of a decision, but this isn’t the first mention of teams monitoring Butler’s situation, and it won’t be the last.