Trade Proposal Sends Heat’s Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love To Kings

January 7, 2025

The Miami Heat want to move Jimmy Butler and the Sacramento Kings could use a boost. So perhaps an NBA trade proposal from John Hollinger of The Athletic could serve both sides well.

Maybe not, too. But hey, it might be worth a shot — or at least some consideration.

Hollinger’s proposed trade sends Miami’s Butler and Kevin Love to Sacramento in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Trey Lyles, and Kevin Huerter. And it involves exactly zero draft picks.

Trade Breakdown:

Miami Heat receive:
DeMar DeRozan, Trey Lyles, Kevin Huerter
Sacramento Kings receive:
Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love

This trade makes sense on multiple fronts. For Miami, the Heat could still compete at a high level this season while shedding some salary and avoiding any looming free-agent concerns for the summer. DeRozan brings scoring, while Huerter adds shooting, and Lyles provides a versatile frontcourt option.

The Heat would also save cap space, allowing them to continue their flexibility and planning for the future, Hollingfer noted.

For Sacramento, the trade provides a way to move on from the DeRozan experiment. Though DeRozan has been solid, it’s clear the Kings may want to pivot and upgrade the roster.

Acquiring Butler would be a big move that signals to De’Aaron Fox that the team is all-in on improving. Butler’s leadership, defense, and ability to step up in clutch moments could be a major asset in Sacramento’s playoff push.

Why This Trade Might Work:

Money lines up: Both teams come out even financially.
Miami gets cap relief: While still having competitive pieces to work with this season.
Sacramento pivots: Moving DeRozan, who may not be the long-term fit, and bringing in a two-way star like Butler could be the final ingredient to elevate this team.

The biggest hurdle? This may not be something the Kings entertain just yet — they’ve got time, and may prefer to explore other trade options first.

But with trade season heating up, maybe this is a deal that could gain traction closer to the deadline, especially if Sacramento struggles to find other solutions. It seemingly would be one of those deals that benefits both teams without pushing anyone too far out of their comfort zone.