The Miami Heat appear to be preparing for a major shake-up, as reports indicate they are open to trade offers for their star forward, Jimmy Butler. This development comes despite earlier statements from Heat President Pat Riley, who publicly dismissed any intention of trading Butler.
However, the situation has dramatically changed since Butler expressed a loss of “joy” in his current role. His comments and his seven-game suspension have fueled speculation about a potential trade.
Nevertheless, not every team has received the green light to pursue the six-time All-Star. According to a report by Kevin O’Connor, the Milwaukee Bucks were explicitly warned to “back off” from any attempts to acquire Butler.
“There’s been a lot of chirping in NBA circles about the future of Miami Heat veteran Jimmy Butler. On Tuesday morning, Chris Haynes reported on X that the Memphis Grizzlies and a few other teams received word that Butler has no interest in being there. One of those other teams? Sources told me the Milwaukee Bucks were also told to back off,” the report read.
The Milwaukee Bucks were told to ‘back off’ regarding the idea of trading for Jimmy Butler, per @KevinOConnorNBA
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 7, 2025
“There’s been a lot of chirping in NBA circles about the future of Miami Heat veteran Jimmy Butler. On Tuesday morning, Chris Haynes reported on X that the Memphis… pic.twitter.com/quboAkcqmz
Multiple teams are already showing interest in Butler. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are emerging as a possible suitor. A report even suggested that the recent lineup changes on the Suns roster are also interlinked with the Suns’ interest in Butler.
Draymond Green Weighs In On Jimmy Butler’s Trade Saga
On the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green shared his thoughts on the ongoing trade rumors surrounding Jimmy Butler. Green suggested that Pat Riley might present Butler with two starkly different options.
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“Pat Riley is Pat Riley. Like y’all have all heard the stories of who Pat Riley is and how Pat Riley. I can see Pat Riley sending Jimmy Butler to a team, an organization that he absolutely hates; that’s garbage. I could also see Pat Riley saying, ‘Hey, go home for the rest of the year; just go home, pay you. It’s fine. Go home; we’re not trading you anywhere,’” Green said.
Whether Butler is traded, sent home, or remains with the Heat, the drama has become one of the NBA’s most hot topics now. Everyone is waiting to see how Riley handles the situation amid Butler’s disappointment.
