If you look at the top 10 scorers in Miami Heat history, you will notice one similarity between them. The Heat rarely trade their big stars. Yes, they have traded away Glen Rice and Shaquille O’Neal, but the Heat do not have a history of letting their big-name players leave in a trade. If they do that, they get a decent return. That makes any Miami Heat Jimmy Butler trade a big challenge for the franchise.
Miami Heat History Makes Potential Butler Trade a Challenge
The Heat have rarely, if ever, had a player request a trade out of town. To be fair, Jimmy hasn’t requested a trade yet, but reports are that he is ready to move on. Now, with a month and a half until the trade deadline, the Heat have to find a suitable trade partner. They might try to do good by Jimmy and send him somewhere he wants and get a decent return back. It would be easy to trade him to the Detroit Pistons or Charlotte Hornets, but that is not happening. Butler led them to two Finals appearances and has earned the right to go and play for a championship. Here is a quick look at what the Heat have gotten back for trading previous stars:
- Before the 1995 season began, one of the first moves Pat Riley made was to send Glen Rice, the franchise star wing, to Charlotte for center Alonzo Mourning. The Hornets got five other players, but Rice was the centerpiece.
- In August 2005, they used Eddie Jones as part of a five-team, 13-player trade to get Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, and James Posey.
- In February 2008, after previously saying they would not trade Shaq, the Heat sent him to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
As you can see, the Heat never sell their players for a low price. They are not a team like the New Orleans Pelicans or the Brooklyn Nets. So, what should they look for in a trade?
What Do the Miami Heat Need in a Butler Trade?
First, let’s check their standings and position. The Heat owe their first-round pick in 2025 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, protected 1-14. If the pick doesn’t convey in 2025, it becomes unprotected in 2026, and that is not a position Miami wants to be in. Their payroll for the year is at $182 million, a little bit over the luxury tax threshold of $170 million, over the first apron set at $178 million, and below the second apron set at $188.9 million. That means they cannot trade away or receive more money in a trade. Because they are not over the second apron, they can combine the salaries of players. Teams mentioned as trade partners are either below the luxury cap (Houston Rockets), over the first apron (Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors), or over the second apron(Phoenix Suns).
They have two players who are part of their future, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, and two more players they would be happy to trade away in Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier. They make over $50 million combined for the next two seasons, so the Heat are better off without Rozier and Robinson. Now, let’s take a look at the potential options.
Who is the Best Player the Heat Can Get?
If we look at the teams so far reported as trade destinations, the Denver Nuggets have the best-established player they can offer, Michael Porter Jr. The Warriors, on the other hand, have the best young prospect in Jonathan Kuminga. The difference is Porter is 26 and under contract for the next two and half seasons. Kuminga, on the other hand, is looking to sign a max rookie extension. Without a contract, he is a free agent in the summer. Yes, he is 22 years old, making him a few years younger than their core. Porter fits the Heat’s timeline better. The question is whether Miami views Kuminga’s potential as higher than Porter’s ceiling.
In any deal with the Warriors, the Heat would also likely get Andrew Wiggins, a wing they can flip for other assets, or have him under contract for two more years. They can also try to get another young player from the Warriors, be it Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, or Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Which Team Has the Best Future Pick?
This is a tight battle between the Rockets and the Warriors. The Warriors and the Rockets can both offer a first-round pick in 2025 and 2027, but the Rockets also have picks from other teams they can dangle in a trade. Of course, the question here remains: how much are the Rockets ready to go all-in on Jimmy? And is he the guy they want to cash their chips for?
Which Team Can Provide Salary Relief?
It is another tight battle between the Rockets and the Warriors. The former have the expiring contract of Steven Adams, Jeff Green, and potentially Fred VanVleet (team option for next year). The Warriors, on the other hand, can offer Dennis Schroder, Gary Payton II, and Kevon Looney’s expiring.
Where Jimmy Might End Up?
If we look at everything, the Warriors seem like the most logical destination. They need someone to help Steph Curry, and they cannot wait on their young players any longer. The Rockets can top any offer, but only if they are willing to enter the sweepstakes. The elephant in the room is LeBron James. It is no secret that the Warriors want to pair LeBron and Curry. While this may seem unlikely to some, the Warriors might be willing to wait longer to see if there is any traction on that front before going all-in for Jimmy. Will the Heat be patient as well? Time will tell.
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