The recent rumors had a week-long shelf life when Jimmy Butler was expected to be traded to the Golden State Warriors. The almost potential trade recently faced a harsh reality check from NBA insider Tim Bontemps on Hoop Collective Podcast.
The insider addressed that the deal is financially impractical and unrealistic. During a recent episode of the podcast, he highlighted that constructing a deal for Jimmy Butler would involve complex financial maneuvering. And particularly given the Warriors’ current roster and salary cap situation, the dream is far-fetched.
“If you’re doing that trade right, the most likely money in the trade is Dennis Schroder, who they just got for $13 million and is expiring. Andrew Wiggins, who is owed around $27 million a year the next couple years, then $28 and $30 million, the next two years,” Bontemps said.
Dennis Schroder, Andrew Wiggins, and promising young forward Jonathan Kuminga would be the Warriors’ most viable trade pieces. However, Bontemps also pointed out that this configuration would plunge the Miami Heat into luxury tax territory if they were to retain Kuminga.
“I don’t think this one is happening until the deadline for all the reasons we’ve talked about. It feels like if anything is going to happen, it’s going to be at the last minute because you’re just going to have to jump through so many hoops to get it done that you’re going to exhaust all other options first,” he added.
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Jimmy Butler Has A Message For The Warriors
The trade-eligible player pool now has 86 players eying for their future bets. Butler is no different to the scenario, and he knows it well. He had been there on the Heat colors for five years. He was brought on a sign and deal from the Philadelphia 76ers, and from there, he has been getting only better.
As the Warriors have emerged as the most obvious franchise targeting the Houston-born NBA star, Jimmy wants to make sure it does not happen like just another trade. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Butler has made it clear that he will remain an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025, refusing any contract extension with the Heat or any acquiring team.
“He has made it known to the league, he intending to not pick that up. His position is that no matter what happens, he is going to be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025,” Windhorst said on his podcast.
Jimmy Butler 'Made It Known' He'll Test FA 'No Matter What Happens'; per @WindhorstESPN
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"He has made it known to the league, he intending to not pick that up. His position is that no matter what happens, he is going to be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025."
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“He has made it known to the league, he intending to not pick that up. His position is that no matter what happens, he is going to be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025,” Windhorst said on his podcast.
Although there is still time to get the final verdict on the JB trade, it will only happen when the Heat star opts to settle for what he wants out of the negotiations. Let’s hope to watch Jimmy finally play in another color.
