Jimmy Butler’s contract situation with the Miami Heat has led to talks of rumors and mock trades; some that could make sense and some that don’t. Butler is entering arguably the most important season of his career. Coming off a season-ending knee injury and just recently turning 35 years old sets him up with a lot to prove.
More importantly, he could become an unrestricted free agent as soon as next summer, as he will have to make a decision on opting into his near $52 million player option. The Heat are faced with the chance of Butler walking for nothing, as the veteran could aim for one final major payday. That’s where the mock trades come in, as Bleacher Report recently went over a few options/destinations for the aging star.
One of their trade scenarios included an exchange with the San Antonio Spurs, and it looked rather underwhelming:
The fact that this is a trade that doesn’t give the Heat any sort of All-Star caliber talent for a superstar that is beloved in Miami is not ideal. Butler’s individual resume and accolades alone trumps the entire group of Spurs players involved in this mock trade combined. It would be disrespectful to not only Butler, but the entire Heat fanbase to settle for a package like this.
Although Miami is short on draft capital, the San Antonio picks in this exchange are deceiving. Right now, any Spurs draft picks could have high value considering they haven’t been a playoff team in a few years. However, the ones involved in this mock are a year from now (which a Butler/Spurs acquisition would instantly impact) and for the year of 2031.
Victor Wembanyama’s generational talent should be enough to make the Spurs more competitive in the coming years, especially by 2031 where he could have a lengthy amount of NBA experience under his belt by then. As soon as Wembanyama is able to lead San Antonio back to postseason contention, any draft picks from then on will only become more invaluable.
The Spurs Rookie of the Year has displayed impressive potential and team impact in his first year. That talent shows that it is only a matter of time until any Spurs draft capital may not be a solid trade asset moving forward.
For someone as valued as Butler when it comes to everyone involved within the Heat organization, this trade will surely not be enough for them to move on.