According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Miami Heat “are open to listening to offers” for star small forward/power forward Jimmy Butler.
Heat are now "open" to trading Jimmy Butler, per @ShamsCharania 😱
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 10, 2024
Jimmy Buckets era in Miami really might be over soon...
Full story: https://t.co/pLDALYwVUs pic.twitter.com/8MIyWE02Pw
Charania also mentioned that the deal would have to be “right” for the Heat to really pull the trigger on their best player. Butler’s agent also mentioned the idea that the six-time All-Star would potentially embrace a move to Houston, Golden State, or Dallas if the opportunity arises.
The Heat and Butler are in an interesting position as Jimmy intends to decline his 2025-2026 player option with the team. With no promise that Butler will be on the team next season, it is an interesting position to try to get value out of the aging star nearing the end of his deal.
Butler, 35, has been a major player for the Heat over the past five seasons. With five playoff appearances, two finals appearances, two All-Star appearances, and three All-NBA nods Butler has been the pulse of the Heat since arriving in 2019. Cutting ties with Butler would likely trigger a reset for a franchise that has been to the playoffs five straight years, but signing an older star to a max deal would bring on its own risks.
I wake up to “Heat open to listening to offers for Jimmy Butler” pic.twitter.com/3XZVAPtavk
— HeatFly 🔥🦅 (@Heatflyy) December 10, 2024
The Heat have signaled that they still want to keep chasing postseason success in the short term, and by not moving Butler, that may help. But if they were to move on from Jimmy, it would be clear that the organization's mindset has changed as they believe their championship window has closed.
Right now, Miami is fifth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-10 and the 12th-best net rating in the NBA, with a +2.7 rating. The team is coming off an impressive three-game winning streak, destroying the Lakers by 41 points and beating the best team in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, 122-113 on Sunday.
The season has just crossed 20 games played for all teams, so it is still early, and with the trade deadline being two months away, it assures that the Heat front office won’t rush into a decision. But it is still interesting how they have at least expressed a willingness to hear trade offers for one of the best players in the NBA.
