Latest on Heat’s Attempts to Trade Jimmy Butler

January 10, 2025

Multiple NBA reports this week have indicated that the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks have been advised to steer clear of pursuing a trade for Jimmy Butler, and while the Grizzlies have certainly received this message, things are a bit murkier when it comes to the Bucks.

Sam Amick of The Athletic clarified during a recent appearance on FanDuel’s Run it Back that he’s certain Memphis got the word, but when it comes to Milwaukee, he’s less convinced about their involvement.

“The Milwaukee thing, I’m admittedly a little confused by,” Amick said. “I was told from somebody who 100% would and should know that Jimmy’s camp had not spoken about Milwaukee and also hadn’t been asked about Milwaukee.”

This is interesting because, despite the Bucks being mentioned in NBA trade rumors as a potential suitor for Butler earlier this week, Amick remains skeptical about how serious Milwaukee really is about exploring a deal.

He added, “There is chatter about the Bucks and the idea of them kicking it around, but I would move off that possibility. I don’t sense a lot of eagerness from the Bucks’ side to go down that road.”

From a logistics standpoint, it’s worth noting that the Bucks are currently operating around $6.5 million above the second tax apron, which complicates matters further.

Any trade involving Butler would require Milwaukee to shed salary in a significant way, likely necessitating multiple player contracts to be aggregated for matching purposes.

This is a tough ask for a team that’s already in a tight spot financially, and it could explain why the Bucks may be hesitant to make a serious push for the Heat star.

As for Butler himself, while there’s plenty of speculation about his future in Miami, NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin highlighted some important context regarding the 35-year-old forward’s trade outlook.

According to his sources, there’s a real chance that Butler stays put in Miami for the rest of the season. If he is moved, the most likely scenario would be during the summer when the Heat would have more flexibility to structure a deal that works for all parties involved.

But for now, it seems like the speculation surrounding Butler’s potential trade destination might be more noise than signal.

While teams like Memphis and Milwaukee may have entertained the idea, the logistics and financial obstacles, along with possible pushback from Butler’s camp, could prevent any serious discussions from gaining momentum.

The reality is that, for all the chatter, Butler staying in Miami for the remainder of the season is a very real possibility. The Heat and their star forward may simply be content to ride this one out until the summer, when the trade winds will blow stronger.