According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Dallas Mavericks are not pursuing Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler.
The Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
“The Mavericks are not pursuing Butler or Durant, according to league sources, although Dallas is definitely not done looking for upgrades on the trade market after acquiring Davis,” Fischer wrote.
Butler has requested a trade from the Miami Heat. He wants to get traded to the Phoenix Suns to play with Durant and Devin Booker.
However, since Bradley Beal won’t have his no-trade clause, the Suns are having trouble landing Butler.
“It’s become quite evident that the Suns — despite all the digital ink spilled on their weekslong interest in Butler — still have no path to acquiring Butler by involving Beal thanks to that pesky no-trade clause,” Fischer wrote. “The unrelenting word continues to be that Beal has no desire to bless a trade pretty much anywhere and prefers to remain in Phoenix, where his family has been settling after finally leaving the nation’s capital. Thus the only mechanisms for the Suns to land Butler, where the six-time NBA All-Star would be expected to land a lucrative contract extension, would appear to require Phoenix to trade Durant or Booker to make that a reality.”
Doncic appeared in 422 games with the Mavericks. He averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists while shooting 47.0% from the field, 34.8% from beyond the arc and 74.8% from the free-throw line.
The Mavericks made the NBA Finals last season. They lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Doncic made five All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams with Dallas. He also won the 2019 Rookie of the Year Award and the 2024 scoring title.
One of the best scorers in NBA history, Durant is averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season for the Suns while shooting 52.5% from the field, 40.5% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the free-throw line. The two-time champion is making $51.2 million.
Meanwhile, Butler is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Heat while shooting 54.0% from the field, 36.1% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line. He is making $48.8 million this season and has a player option worth $52.4 million for next season.
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