Heat’s Jimmy Butler Has Thwarted Multiple Trades In Effort To Get To Suns

Miami Heat wing Jimmy Butler is blocking potential trades as he continues to insist on the Phoenix Suns being his next destination, per NBA insiders Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN.NBA, Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

The Heat are aiming to move Butler ahead of the NBA trade deadline (Thursday, 3 p.m. EST). Butler does not have a no-trade clause.

“Butler’s obsession with getting to the Phoenix Suns is bizarrely admirable,” Windhorst wrote. “He has torched his relationship with the Heat and hurt the team’s season. He has also blocked trade options that would be good fits, where he could have potentially gotten paid and been on a contender.

“But he’s the rare difference-maker who can tilt the outcome of a playoff series and that comes with a lot of power. Butler is trying to use it.”

It’s been reported that Butler has made it clear he does not want to play for the Golden State Warriors, pausing trade talks between the sides. (Though, word is, the Warriors may not have given up yet.)

So far, Butler has indicated he’s unwilling to sign a contract extension with Golden State. He is currently suspended by the Heat — for the third time this season — and expected to not play another game for them.

Miami is feeling no obligation to move Butler to Phoenix, sources said. He could end up elsewhere, as some teams may be fine with trading for him even if he doesn’t indicate he’d sign an extension there.

The Suns are having major issues putting together a deal for Butler, given that guard Bradley Beal has a no-trade clause in his contract. So Phoenix is limited in what it can do.

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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