We all know by now the drama surrounding Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. For the hundredth time, unsurprisingly, the embattled forward has again asked for a trade. If we look at his past antics, this was an inevitable outcome for one of the league’s most notorious stars after leading the Heat in two NBA Finals appearances in the last four seasons…and failing to win it all.
At 35 years old, the current market for Butler’s services is severely limited. With a player option for a massive 52.4 million for the 2025-2026 season, it’s understandable that a plethora of teams are wary of adding an aging star to what could end up as a costly half-season rental if he decides to opt out of his current contract at the end of this season.
But if the market is limited, why are some teams still willing to take the risk of adding Butler to their roster? One reason is that the Heat forward can still produce at a high level and doesn’t necessarily need to be the team’s number one option.
Despite the would-be headaches he might incur, a star like him can still do wonders for a franchise that’s on the cusp of contention. Here are the top 10 teams who could get a much-needed boost by trading for Jimmy Butler.
Can Jimmy Butler truly help these 10 teams succeed this season?
Phoenix Suns
With Bradley Beal recently relegated to a 6th man role, the Suns have inadvertently admitted to the rest of the league that the core of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal are no longer working. In all honesty, three offensive-minded guys sharing one ball? That core was doomed at the beginning.
With reports that the Heat aren’t ecstatic to take on Beal’s massive contract, a deal between these two teams isn’t out of the woods yet. A third or fourth team could be added to make it work. The Suns want to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy so badly and are willing to splurge to accomplish it. With Kevin Durant approaching the wrong side of the 30s, trading for Jimmy Butler might be their best chance to compete for a title this season or the next.
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Houston Rockets
It’s not a secret that Jimmy Butler wants to play for his hometown Rockets. Admittedly, this would become a feel-good story, and he won’t be villainized for it if it materializes. Headlines like ‘Jimmy is going home to end his career’ – nobody will hate him for that. The narratives about him will change from being a diva to a hero. With Houston becoming one of the most surprising teams in the West, adding Butler does make a lot of sense.
Let’s get one thing clear: this Rockets team doesn’t have a superstar on its roster. Each team needs at least one or two to compete for a championship. Perhaps a bit past his prime, Butler can still offer a lot on the table for this young Rockets squad. He can become their go-to guy in the playoffs or lead them past adversity. He can teach them how to win at big moments.
Golden State Warriors
Call them over the hill or washed; there’s no denying that the Warriors are still looking to compete despite having an aging core of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. While their championship window is arguably in the rearview mirror right now, trading for Butler should propel them to a guaranteed top-six finish in the West this season.
This squad has two of the most inconsistent forwards in the game, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga. It’s safe to say that they desperately need help at the forward spot. At the moment, Jimmy Butler is much superior to Wiggins or Kuminga on both ends of the floor.
Memphis Grizzlies
Aside from Ja Morant, it’s no secret that the Grizzlies do need another star if they want to be considered a true contender for a title in the NBA. With a ton of young role players on the roster, prying Jimmy Butler away from the Heat is feasible.
If they do miraculously acquire the mercurial forward via trade, there’s no doubt that a Morant-Butler tandem should be enough to make the Grizzlies one of the title favorites in the immediate future. Butler will add his vast postseason experience and defensive tenacity to this young Memphis squad, making them a hardy opponent for any team in the league.
Also Read: RUMOR: Jimmy Butler Still “Expected” To Stay With Miami Heat Despite A Lengthy Suspension
San Antonio Spurs
Realistically, the Spurs have the right assets to pull off a trade for Jimmy Butler before the trade deadline. Trading Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell to Miami, plus a few draft assets, should do the trick. Spurs guard Chris Paul is already making his presence felt for this young team, and they are surprisingly in the hunt for a top-eight finish in the West this season.
Adding Butler to that mix? The Spurs now have two veterans who can guide the team’s emerging star, Victor Wembanyama, on how to win at a high level. That is a recipe for immediate success, my friend. Even if San Antonio isn’t Jimmy’s hometown, it’s guaranteed that he’ll be excited for the move because he’s back in his home state of Texas.
Dallas Mavericks
All Texas teams are here, huh? Butler to Dallas seems like an odd fit on paper, but a few pundits are convinced that this could work. The Mavs are loaded in the wing, but it’s no secret that they need a two-way monster in the postseason, as their defensive guys were cooked thoroughly by the Celtics in last year’s Finals.
At his advancing age, Butler probably wouldn’t mind that he’ll be the third option for this Mavs team behind superstar Luka Doncic and one-time champ Kyrie Irving. Butler, the two-way monster he is as a player, will present the best option for Dallas to guard OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, should both of these teams clash in the playoffs.
Atlanta Hawks
While this is a mere impossibility, adding Jimmy Butler to the Hawks makes a lot of sense on paper. Atlanta is vying for a top-six finish in a relatively weaker Eastern Conference this season. Trae Young has shown he has what it takes to be a leader for the first time in his career. He now trusts his teammates to make the shot rather than launching a 35-foot three-pointer for entertainment like he often did in the past.
However, Young needs help, and Butler might be the best available talent that this team could trade for this season. A tandem of Young and Butler can do wonders for this often-forgotten franchise. For the naysayers who will say that this won’t work due to Trae Young’s tainted history of being paired with an all-star(insert Dejounte Murray’s name here), we have news for you – Butler plays a totally different position from Young, and this team is rather thin at the forward spot. He could be the boost Atlanta needs, no doubt.
Philadelphia 76ers
Jimmy Buckets back in Philly? If this reunion happens, will it last longer than Butler’s 55-game tenure with the team a few years ago? Before signing Paul George in the offseason, the Sixers initially tried to engage the Heat about Jimmy Butler’s availability. Miami wasn’t keen on trading Butler then, although his beef with the franchise was slowly brewing after their first-round exit against the Celtics.
With his recent antics, his subsequent 7-game suspension, and trade demands, now might be the right time for Philly to engage the Heat in trade talks. The Sixers struggled at the start of this season but have become competitive lately. Adding Butler to the mix will definitely boost this team’s chances for a title this season. In addition, Joel Embiid wants to reunite with Butler.
Los Angeles Lakers
Let’s just assume that the Lakers still have some assets to trade for this scenario to happen. It may be a long shot, but Butler should mesh well with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in a Lakers uniform. LA needs stars, and the more, the merrier, right?
Jimmy could play either the three or the four for this Lakers team. He can provide toughness to this Lakers squad on a nightly basis. Due to LeBron and AD’s presence, scoring wouldn’t be much of a problem. He’ll be tasked primarily as their main defender and leader on the defensive end of the court. Will this make the Lakers a contender? Perhaps there’s a chance, albeit small. Maybe coach JJ Redick can integrate the often-troubled forward into a better scheme to succeed in La La Land.
Denver Nuggets
You didn’t have the Nuggets in your mind of destinations for Butler, did you? Seeing how a poor three-point shooter like Russell Westbrook thrives in a Nuggets uniform is a testament that a so-so shooter like Jimmy Butler can undoubtedly fit in this team, too. Nikola Jokic is yet on his way to another MVP trophy, but the Nuggets aren’t even considered contenders this season.
Adding Jimmy Butler to that mix should shake up things in the West and the rest of the league. He can immediately fill their shooting guard spot and continue to be the two-way monster he was throughout his career. The former all-star can provide some scoring relief whenever Jokic has a night off and could become the voice behind their newfound defensive identity. The possibilities are limitless, truly. This is one destination for Butler that’s severely underrated.
Also Read: Jimmy Butler Drops Cryptic Response On His Future With The Miami Heat, And Fans Are Losing It
