Over the course of his six-year Miami Heat tenure, Jimmy Butler has put up iconic performances on the NBA’s biggest stage to be remembered as a franchise great. However, now is not the time to look back on those memories.
The disgruntled star has ultimately made his sloppy trade request out of South Florida as difficult as possible. His three team-issued suspensions have tanked any sort of leverage the Heat could have had to put them in a position to win any trade return.
Instead, Pat Riley and the front office would be happy to at least receive anything decent just to finally put an end to this partnership.
But Butler isn’t making it easy for anybody involved. Despite his "anywhere but Miami" inital remarks, it has been clear that he’s had his sights set on the Phoenix Suns as a top preferred trade destination for quite some time. And his demands are reaching new levels as we close in on Thursday’s 3:00 PM trade deadline.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Butler has blocked multiple trades that would have sent him to a contender, shockingly even with them willing to pay him a max contract extension.
“He has torched his relationship with the Heat and hurt the team’s season.”
— All U Can Heat (@AllUCanHeat1) February 4, 2025
“(Jimmy Butler) is trying so hard to force his way to the Suns.” Windhorst said. “He has had several other opportunities where he could've gone, including the Warriors who were willing to give him a contract extension, and he said; 'No, send me to Phoenix.'”
The problem for Butler and his Phoenix obsession remains the same obstacle as it’s been for over a month now— nobody is willing to bite on Bradley Beal’s contract, including Miami. However, it is worth noting that Windhorst also added to his report the Heat’s determination to move on from Butler, even if it’s to a destination that doesn’t appease him.
“The Heat are very motivated to move Butler and could abandon the Phoenix Suns option and send him somewhere else. (Golden State remains a possibility if the Heat run out of time and then let the new team deal with the fallout.)” @WindhorstESPN
— Dru (@dru_star) February 4, 2025
Via @espn: https://t.co/cYue6fps17 pic.twitter.com/fHeda6jMf2
This dilemma has been fluid since the holidays, and that still remains the case with the deadline vastly approaching. Perhaps the Suns get desperate, realize that the Beal contract is viewed as a non-starter around the league, and start to put other chips on the table.
Phoenix has limped to the current eighth seed in the Western Conference, and look like a team that isn’t just an aging Butler away from contending.
Shams Charania iterated the Suns’ mutual interest with Butler recently, saying that they are “fully focused” to deal for the Heat star before Thursday’s deadline. Would they pivot to putting Kevin Durant on the table in return for the coveted Butler and some more Heat assets?
If that’s not the case, both sides are going to have to start looking in another direction, and time isn’t in anybody’s favor. The only realistic options presented at the last minute could very well include Butler settling for a move elsewhere.