Report: Heat Could Trade Jimmy Butler If Extension Isn’t Reached ‘At His Preferred Price’

According to NBA insider Matt Moore of The Action Network, the Miami Heat could trade Jimmy Butler if an extension isn’t reached “at his preferred price.”

Butler is extension-eligible this offseason, and according to NBA reporter Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, Butler is expected to seek a two-year extension worth around $113 million.

“Butler has one more year left on his deal with the Heat,” Moore wrote. “The Heat don’t have to trade him. Whether you think having Jimmy Butler disgruntled in the final year of a deal sounds like a fun time is certainly something everyone has to decide. But there’s at least a feeling in league circles that if the Heat decide not to extend him at his preferred price, they’ll facilitate a deal.

“Butler’s preference is known to be to remain in Miami, but the money will decide it. It doesn’t seem like the situation is likely to end contentiously between the Heat and Butler, but most of these situations don’t end well.”

Butler will make $48.8 million next season. He has a player option worth $52.4 million for the 2025-26 season. 

The Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of this year’s postseason in five games. Butler didn’t play because of a knee injury. 

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 this season 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 Sixers and Heat. He’s made five All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive teams.

If the Heat don’t sign Butler to an extension, some people around the NBA think the star could request a trade. However, there has been no concrete reporting stating that would happen. 

The Sixers are interested in acquiring Butler, who played 55 games for them in 2018-19. According to NBA reporter Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia is prepared to give Butler a max extension.