[HitsterParticipant]

It looks like Jimmy Butler is on his way out of Miami given they have suspended him for 7 games and there has been no offer of a new contract for him despite him having been eligible to extend for a while.

Jimmy has said he will opt out of a hefty players option next season and will no doubt be looking for a 3 year deal to take him up to 38 years old as that would be the max he could sign. I’d assume he’d be looking for something in the range of what Paul George got last summer although Jimmy would be almost 2 years older than PG13 was when the respective contracts were signed. But both would take the guys up to 38.

Jimmy has a list of teams he’s like to be traded to but without a “No trade” clause Pat Riley and co could send him anywhere or just let his contract run out and he walks like PG13 did. Miami aren’t going to take back longer contracts or players they don’t want to get Jimmy to his favoured teams and those teams don’t have the assets that uninterested teams do.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

All good points, wondering where he’ll end up at. Is his value a first round pick???

[HitsterParticipant]

It depends what sort of pick it is.

Outside of his preferred teams I’ve seen the Spurs mentioned if we assume that Castle is off limits would Keldon Johnson on a reasonable contract be of interest to the Heat along with Harrison Barnes who I could see being the sort of veteran Riley, Spol and co would like. The Spurs could throw in a future first rounder too of one of the many they possess.

My other thought was NoP with Ingram on his expiring deal and likely to test FA. Might a pretty straight swap be on the cards there. Heat get first at one of the better FA’s next summer. NoP can try Butler and Zion this season or maybe mainly sit them to try and sit them to improve lottery odds.

Butler then has Zion, McCollum, Murray, Murphy and a high pick as running mates for next season. If he walks then NoP are in same position as if Ingram walked so they lose nothing.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

I kind of like the Pelicans idea. It’s about the only team I can see giving up something of value for Jimmy and maybe the only team that has a sucker punches chance of winning it with Jimmy and a healthy lineup. I hope a team like the Spurs doesn’t do that. Idk though, would you trade 50 million dollars worth of chips and a 1st round pick to get Jimmy? Remember when the lakers traded Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell to get that first rounder in Lonzo Ball back in the day??? That’s the kind of trade I’m thinking… Is Butler even worth a first? And I mean back half of the first round. He’s 38 and not getting younger. He has a lot of demands similar to a lot of other guys that age. And he’s not quite going to take a team to the promise land… I’m kind of thinking that nobody will want to push in the chips for that, as the track record to do so hasn’t panned out so far. The Lakers haven’t won many with LeBron. Just a shortened season. Kevin Durant fleeced the Suns. They would have been better off with Mikal Bridges and a bunch of picks they lost getting Durant. Not saying it won’t happen, but I think it would be foolish for any team to try to get Jimmy while giving up multiple firsts or something. Watch, the Lakers will trade their future for Jimmy Butler. eeek!

[HitsterParticipant]

The Lakers would only go in for Jimmy Butler if they felt they could win this year or next and might want him to opt in for next season. Would Jimmy do that for the chance to play with LBJ and AD?

KD has been a good player for the Suns but those picks lost and having to trade Ayton has cost us. The Nets got way too many picks for Bridges too but they have a good team in situ too.

Butler for Ingram would be a pretty straight up trade with a filler to balance out salaries and no picks, If NoP are going to lose Ingram for nothing they can do same with Butler or it gives them an experienced extra piece with McCollum, Murray etc to go with Zion and this years draft pick.

Brooklyn with Ben Simmons’ expiring deal might be interested in Butler to see if he fitted in, if not he walks and they still have cap space. Heat can have a look at Simmons and see if they can get anything out of him. Nets have a lot of picks due so maybe send a protected first rounder.

[r377Participant]

Jimmy Butler is the biggest cancer in the NBA. He constantly quits on his team.

He is not a franchise player or worth $50 mill. Miami get rid of him for a sack of potatoes !

[HitsterParticipant]

Jimmy was a guy who worked his way to the top and has taken the Heat to two NBA title games but he is pushing 36 now and I doubt Riley and co wanted to commit 3 more years to him when he had a nice player option for next season. If they had been serious about trading him I think it would have played out last summer but nothing happened and I can now just see him walking come summer.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

I was thinking… Butler should come to terms to shut it down this year… and hopefully get traded to the Bulls. That’s where he started his career, and it would be a fine full circle to go there again. I don’t know the trade I’d make, but no LaVine would probably not be involved due to the extra year in the contract. Either that or just retire already…

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