Miami Heat star forward Jimmy Butler has made it known to the league that he intends to test free agency regardless of a potential trade, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Heat Trade Rumors: Jimmy Butler Will Likely Ask For A Multi-Year Deal After The 2024-25 Season
Butler and the Heat were unable to agree to a contract extension before the start of the 2024-25 season. Although he still has $52.4 million player option for 2025-26, the six-time All-Star will probably ask for a multi-year deal.
“He has got a player option in his contract for $52 million next year,” Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective at the 47:30 mark. “He has made it known to the league, he intending to not pick that up. His position is that no matter what happens, he is going to be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025.”
Miami may decide to trade Butler instead of letting him walk during the summer. If the Heat can acquire multiple draft picks and role players in exchange, it would be a smarter move for the front office to go that route.
Heat Are $13.9 Million Over The Luxury Tax, $9.2 Million Over The First Apron, And $1.6 Million Under The Second Apron
Bernie Lee, Butler’s agent, criticized ESPN’s Shams Charania for his report last week, stating that Butler has never asked to be traded, and the Heat are not aggressively shopping him.
Charania said Tuesday that Butler is open to the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors, and he mentioned a fourth team on Wednesday: the Phoenix Suns.
Per Spotrac, the Heat are $13.9 million over the luxury tax, $9.2 million over the first apron, and $1.6 million under the second apron. Note that Miami is not hard-capped at either the first or second apron.
That means Miami can aggregate players in trades, provided the end result sees them staying under the second apron. Having said that, since the Heat are over the first apron, they can’t take back more salary in a deal than they send out, because such a move would trigger a first-apron hard cap.
Miami Could Ride It Out With Butler
David Aldridge of The Athletic also reported on Saturday that the Heat and the 14-year veteran “seem destined to part ways” via trade at some point during the 2024-25 season. But winning solves every problem, right? After all, it’s not like Butler is in a slump or faking an injury.
Through 18 games (all starts) this campaign, Butler is averaging 18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 31.9 minutes per contest while shooting a career-best 55% from the floor, 36% from 3-point territory, and 77.8% at the free throw line.
Miami is currently on a four-game win streak, sitting at 13-10 and fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Since the Heat are only 1 1/2 games out behind the New York Knicks (16-10) and Orlando Magic (17-11), they could decide to keep Butler for the remainder of the season.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
