Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Jimmy Butler To Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. To Heat

One NBA analyst proposed that the Denver Nuggets acquire Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Nuggets and Heat:

Jimmy Butler and Alec Burks for Michael Porter Jr., Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji and a 2031 first-round pick swap

“The Denver Nuggets caught a lot of flak for an offseason in which they lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic, but upgrades to the bench and development from one or two young wings could very easily mean they’re just better in 2024-25,” Bailey wrote. “That’s obviously not guaranteed, though. It’s especially not in the Western Conference, which has been a relentless gauntlet for a quarter of a century now. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves (thanks mostly to 23-year-old Anthony Edwards) and Memphis Grizzlies could all be better.

“If by some time around the trade deadline, Denver feels like another year of Nikola Jokić‘s prime might be slipping away from title contention, a dramatic shakeup like the one above could at least be offered. Michael Porter Jr. is eight years younger than Butler, and losing his three-point shooting would be a very real concern. Denver just finished the 2023-24 campaign in 25th place in threes made. But there isn’t a player in the world who’d be better at leveraging Butler’s cutting and slashing than Jokić’s. The two-man game between those two would be unstoppable, giving the Nuggets another late-game option beyond the Jokić and Jamal Murray interplay. This move could also torpedo Denver’s depth, but it’d give the Nuggets a slightly more dynamic, playoff-ready top five or six.”

Butler will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if he declines his 2025-26 player option, a move he’s expected to do. 

A six-time All-Star, Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks in 60 games last season for the Heat while shooting 49.9% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line.

Butler has career averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat. He’s made five All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive teams.

“For the Heat, this deal doesn’t offer as much draft capital (because Denver really doesn’t have any), but Peyton Watson is one of the league’s most interesting up-and-coming defenders,” Bailey wrote. “Julian Strawther looks like he could be a high-volume floor spacer. And if Miami wants to tip off a sort of quick, aggressive rebuild that doesn’t really sacrifice winning now, MPJ would be a heck of a running mate for Bam.

“With Adebayo’s point center skills and Porter’s experience playing alongside a playmaking big, that duo would do plenty of damage right away. Lineups with Bam surrounded by shooting from Porter, Herro, Nikola Jović and potentially Jaquez could spread defenses thin and stack points up in a hurry.”

Porter Jr. averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.7 blocks for the Nuggets last season while shooting 48.4% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc and 83.6% from the free-throw line. He played in 81 games. 

The one-time NBA champion will make $35.9 million in 2024-25. He signed a five-year, $172 million contract with the Nuggets in 2021. 

Porter Jr. has career averages of 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks. He’s only 26 years old. Denver drafted Porter Jr. with the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.