In an appearance on “SportsCenter” late Friday night (YouTube link), Shams Charania of ESPN gave the latest update on Jimmy Butler‘s situation in Miami, stating that the Heat would prefer to trade the six-time All-Star “as soon as possible.”
The Heat recently suspended Butler for seven games, but the duration was largely irrelevant, as no one actually expects him to play another game for Miami, according to Charania.
“This is a clear-cut end to the Butler-Heat relationship,” Charania said. “And as stunning as the seven-game suspension was around the league, more than anything this was an avenue for the Heat to keep Jimmy Butler away from the team over these next couple of weeks. The situation around the Heat with Jimmy Butler there had become unmanageable.
“ … From my understanding, the goal right now is to move Butler as soon as possible. And I’m told the Heat have spoken with teams as of Friday about Butler trades and they will continue to engage with teams. … Just eight days ago, (president) Pat Riley came out and said ‘we are not trading Jimmy Butler.’ Now, the Heat are fully open for business, and the writing is officially on the wall for Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.”
One trade package that might appeal to the Heat would be a “relatively inexpensive good player” — whether on an expiring or multiyear contract — plus other expiring deals to match salaries with Butler’s $48.8M outgoing cap hit, per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter link). Getting another star player in return for Butler would be “very appealing” to the Heat, but Jackson acknowledges that will be a challenge.
Although Charania reported that Miami would like to move the five-time All-NBA forward as soon it can, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald hears a potential trade will be determined by the types of offers the team receives, and the Heat aren’t necessarily in a rush to deal Butler (Twitter link).
Butler, 35, has averaged 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 22 appearances this season (30.8 MPG). His shooting slash line is .552/.375/.788.
