Jimmy Butler ‘absolutely interested’ in Suns if Heat seek trade
Dec 12, 2024, 2:40 PM | Updated: Dec 13, 2024, 9:33 am
Jimmy Butler is indeed interested in joining the Phoenix Suns. Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reports that not only is the current Miami Heat star putting the Suns as one of a handful of landing spots if he were to leave Florida but that Phoenix could be the favorite.
“I always take a little bit of time, make sure I get stories correct,” Gambadoro said on the Burns & Gambo show Thursday. “Jimmy Butler is absolutely interested in coming to the Phoenix Suns.
“I would go as far as to say that I believe this will be his number one choice, is to play for the Phoenix Suns.”
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ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported Wednesday that Butler was interested in the Suns along with three other teams. It drew the ire of Butler’s agent, who went on a three-post screed on X.
Butler on Thursday afternoon added to the rumblings of his search for a new team when he posted a picture of new orange highlights to his hair.
Fans quickly put together his hair color changes this season corresponded to the four teams that Charania said he’d push to join: Yellow (Warriors), blue (Mavericks), red (Rockets) and orange (Suns).
The Suns (12-11), according to Gambadoro, are not currently approaching a trade for Butler but will take the next 10-15 games with a potentially healthy roster to find out what they have.
Kevin Durant (ankle) is trending toward being healthy and available starting this weekend, and Phoenix has gone 11-2 in games that he’s played.
The team has a relatively light schedule, too, with the lineup from now through Jan. 16 looking like so: Jazz, Blazers, Pacers, Pistons, Nuggets, Nuggets, Mavericks, Warriors, Grizzlies, Pacers, Sixers, Hornets, Hawks, Jazz, Hornets, Hawks, Wizards.
How could the Suns trade for Jimmy Butler?
Phoenix would need to move off of Bradley Beal’s contract to pursue Butler if they were interested, and Beal would also have to lift a no-trade clause in his contract.
Because the Suns are a second apron team, they cannot aggregate salaries in a deal for Butler, who is averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Butler is on an expiring $48.8 million salary with a $52.4 player option for next year when he will play at 36 years old.
Gambadoro confirmed that, as Spotrac.com’s Keith Smith determined, Phoenix and Miami could in theory work out a two-team trade if the Heat also include a veteran’s minimum contract going the Suns’ direction.
The Heat cannot do a one-for-one trade because it would push them into second-apron territory.
Phoenix would likely need to send more filler to Miami such as draft picks, but Gambadoro adds he does not believe the Suns give up their first-round choice in 2031 to get a deal done.
The question leads us to this, which makes such a deal look untenable: Do the Heat want to take on Beal’s contract that pays out $50.2 million this year, $53.7 million next season with a $57.1 million player option for 2026-27?
