Grade the trade idea: Heat send 6-time All-Star to Nuggets to kickstart new era

Jimmy Butler turned 35 last weekend, and to celebrate, Bleacher Report threw him into a bunch of fake trades.

The piece came on the heels of The Athletic's report that the Golden State Warriors called the Miami Heat to inquire about Butler's availability at some point this summer. 

Butler is entering what could be considered a contract year. He can become a free agent next summer if he opts out of his $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season. At that point, he'll be going into his age-36 season. It could be his last chance for a lucrative long-term deal.

If Butler's time in Miami comes to an end within the next calendar year, then the Warriors make sense as a potential landing spot. Firmly in win-now mode after Stephen Curry's extension, the Warriors have desperately searched for a co-star. Butler is the kind of needle-mover they've been looking for.

The Denver Nuggets are in a similar situation. After winning the 2023 championship, the Nuggets have watched more talent leave than come in. They recently signed Jamal Murray to an extension and Nikola Jokic isn't going anywhere. Still, there's a sense that another move might be needed to get back to the top of the Western Conference (especially with teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves stacking talent).

Could a swing for Butler help Jokic get back to the Finals?

Bleacher Report proposed the following trade concept: Jimmy Butler and Alec Burks for Michael Porter Jr., Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji and a 2031 first-round pick swap.

Let's dive into why this makes sense for the Nuggets and the Heat before giving the idea a grade.