According to an ESPN report earlier this week, the Miami Heat are open to trading Jimmy Butler. Bernie Lee, Butler’s agent, stated that his client would prefer to be traded to one of four teams: the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors or Phoenix Suns.
The challenge, however, lies in Butler’s massive $48.8M salary for the 2024-25 season, which makes a straight-up trade difficult for any of his preferred suitors.
Take the Mavericks, for example: to match Butler’s salary, they would need to part with a significant package of frontcourt players — potentially including P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell or even Klay Thompson (after Dec. 15).
Landing Butler would be nearly impossible for the Suns unless they move one of Kevin Durant or Devin Booker, or convince the Heat to take on Bradley Beal’s hefty contract. The Rockets face similar hurdles, needing to either unload Fred VanVleet’s deal (a long shot) or gut their roster. The Warriors, too, would have to dismantle their core around Stephen Curry and Draymond Green just to fit Butler into their plans.
While straight-up trades may not be feasible, two three-team deals could work for all parties involved.
(Note: Both trades are viable according to ESPN’s Trade Machine.)
Miami Heat receive: D’Angelo Russell, De’Anthony Melton, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Christian Wood
Golden State Warriors receive: Jimmy Butler and Jalen Hood-Schifino
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Andrew Wiggins
In this trade scenario, Miami doesn’t receive any draft compensation. Still, the Heat lands a strong return for their disgruntled 35-year-old star, who is likely to depart this summer.
Kuminga and Moody are the centerpiece of this deal — two promising young players who could serve as foundational pieces for the future. While the immediate ceiling of this team may not be as high this season, a starting lineup of Tyler Herro, Moody, Haywood Highsmith, Kuminga and Bam Adebayo, complemented by Russell, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Kevin Love and Wood, creates a solid playoff contender. With a burgeoning core in place, the Heat would be well-positioned for sustained success going forward.
For the Warriors, this trade is a no-brainer. They part with Kuminga, a player head coach Steve Kerr has never fully trusted, as in addition to De’Anthony Melton, who is sidelined for the season with an ACL injury, and two wings — Moody and Andrew Wiggins — who haven’t proven to be the playoff performers that Jimmy Butler is.
The Warriors’ new starting lineup of Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Butler, Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis would be one of the most talented and versatile in the NBA. Off the bench, they’d still have Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II, Kyle Anderson and Kevon Looney, giving them depth and flexibility for a deep postseason run.
The Lakers also jump into the deal to help make the money work, sending Russell — a player they’ve openly shopped—and Wood, who has yet to suit up this season due to a knee injury, in exchange for Wiggins, the 3-and-D wing they’ve long coveted.
Miami Heat receive: Ben Simmons, Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, 2025 first-round pick
Houston Rockets receive: Jimmy Butler
Brooklyn Nets receive: Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Heat load up on young talent from the Rockets with this deal, acquiring Sheppard, the 2024 No. 3 pick, defensive standout Eason and promising wing Whitmore, along with one of the league’s top perimeter defenders in Dillon Brooks. While these players can’t replicate Butler’s two-way impact, this trade is a clear bet on the future without sacrificing the present. Sheppard, Whitmore and Eason would benefit from more development opportunities with the Heat, which can offer them a more prominent role than they had on the loaded Rockets.
Meanwhile, Miami would take on Ben Simmons to make the finances work. He is a former three-time All-Star on an expiring contract who has shown flashes of his previous defense and playmaking this season.
This would be a major victory for the Rockets, allowing them to land Butler without parting with any of their top five players. A starting lineup of VanVleet, Jalen Green, Butler, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun, with Amen Thompson, Steven Adams, Jock Landale and Aaron Holiday coming off the bench, would give Houston a legitimate shot at competing for a title this season.
The Nets, meanwhile, would step in to facilitate the deal, acquiring a promising young frontcourt player in Jaquez Jr. on a cost-controlled rookie contract. They’d also take on Rozier, a proven second-unit scorer, adding depth to their roster.
