As trade season ramps up, Jimmy Butler appears to be the biggest star on the market. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Miami Heat are open to listening to trade offers for the 35-year-old All-Star. If there’s a contending team in search of a difference-maker, there is no name – including Brandon Ingram and Zach LaVine – with quite the wattage of Butler.
Butler remains extension eligible, but Heat president Pat Riley made it clear in the spring that he doesn’t intend to talk about Butler’s next contract until next summer, when Butler can become a free agent.
Butler has made it clear that he intends to opt out of his $52.4 million salary for next season and seek a long-term, maximum contract in the offseason. Whether that contract is out there remains to be seen, and will, in part, be determined on his performance the rest of this season, but there’s a possibility that the Heat could lose Butler for nothing.
In that case, it makes sense why the front office would at least be listening to trade offers. In a deal, the Heat would be prioritizing future cap flexibility and assets to retool around Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
Because of the new salary cap structure and the limitations several teams face in trying to acquire an expensive star, executing a Butler trade is difficult. ESPN recently came up with six packages that work under the league’s new rules and could offer the Heat what they are looking for.
Let’s rank them! We’ll start with the worst trade for Miami and wrap up with the one that is most palatable.
6. Phoenix Suns
Suns get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Bradley Beal, 2031 Suns first-round pick, 2031 Suns second-round pick, 2026 and 2031 Nuggets second-round picks (via Suns)
76ers get: Alec Burks
Nobody has answered the question about why the Heat would want Bradley Beal, but getting a 2031 first-round pick from Phoenix is at least interesting. By then, Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler will be retired and Devin Booker will be well into his 30s – he may not even be on the Suns by then. There’s potential for that pick to be near the top of the draft. The player chosen with that pick won’t help the Heat reboot around Adebayo and Herro, but the pick could be a valuable trade chip when more players are available next summer. Still, taking a step back while also tying up future cap flexibility with Beal makes this a no-go.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Mavericks get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Brandon Ingram, Naji Marshall, Daniel Theis
Pelicans get: Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell, Klay Thompson
Pistons get: Maxi Kleber, 2025 DAL 1 (top-14 protected)
No picks, no young players, and the headache of dealing with Brandon Ingram’s next contract? No thanks. As interesting as Brandon Ingram might be, he’s currently hurt and will be a free agent next summer. The Heat could re-sign him, but that wouldn’t create much salary cap relief. If they let Ingram walk, then this deal doesn’t provide much else in the way of future assets.
4. San Antonio Spurs
Spurs get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Harrison Barnes, Malaki Branham, Keldon Johnson, 2025 first-round pick (worst of Atlanta, Charlotte top-14 protected, Chicago top-10 protected and San Antonio)
Keldon Johnson has mostly been a gunner in San Antonio, but his size (6-foot-6, 6-foot-9 wingspan) and athleticism make for an intriguing fit in the perimeter rotation. His shooting numbers have dipped this season, but players tend to shoot better in Miami. A high-upside experiment for the Heat’s development program. Harrison Barnes could slot in as an experienced power forward next to Bam Adebayo for a couple of seasons. That 2025 first projects as a middling first in June. It’s a solid package but nothing to get excited about.
3. Houston Rockets
Rockets get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green, 2027 first-round pick (worse of Brooklyn and Houston), 2029 first-round pick (second-best of Dallas, Houston and Phoenix)
So, the Heat aren’t getting any of Houston’s good, young players? A pair of first-round picks is interesting, but dig deeper and that 2029 first projects as a middling first at best. That 2027 first coming from (most likely) Brooklyn is a valuable trade chip. The bet for the Heat would be that they could turn around and package Brooks, that pick and additional salary for an All-Star next summer.
2. Denver Nuggets
Nuggets get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Zeke Nnaji, Michael Porter Jr., 2026 first-round swap, 2031 first-round swap
Michael Porter Jr. might be the best player in any of these packages. He’s a 6-foot-10 flamethrower who has shot better than 40% from 3 for his career. At 26, he’s improving as a rebounder, defender and passer. When thinking about players that fit next to Adebayo and Herro, length and shooting are a requirement. MPJ checks both boxes. Zeke Nnaji would be a fun experiment for Miami’s development program. Those swaps, particularly in 2031, are semi-sweeteners, but don’t offer much trade value.
1. Golden State Warriors
Warriors get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Kyle Anderson, Gary Payton II, Andrew Wiggins, 2025 Warriors first-round pick (top-4 protected), 2028 Warriors first-round pick
Pistons get: Kevon Looney, 2026 Lakers second-round pick (via Heat)
This is the first time I’ve seen a Warriors-inspired deal that doesn’t include Jonathan Kuminga, and it does solve the issue of the Heat being forced to deal with Kuminga’s next contract. Trading Butler would hurt, but the Heat would be adding three legitimate rotation pieces who could help right away. Andrew Wiggins could step into Butler’s spot as a high-level, 3-and-D role player. Kyle Anderson makes an impact wherever he is, and Gary Payton II could play alongside either Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson as a point-of-attack defender. The two picks coming Miami’s way are valuable, particularly that 2028 pick, which will convey when Stephen Curry is 40 years old. This trade checks most of the boxes (helpful players, draft picks and cap relief).