NBA Trade Rumors: Could Nuggets, Spurs Emerge As Sleepers In Jimmy Butler Sweepstakes?

As the NBA trade deadline approaches (Feb. 6), two teams — the Nuggets and Spurs — have emerged as potential wild-card suitors for Heat star Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler, Heat, Aaron Gordon Nuggets, NBA

Both have the pieces to make a deal happen, but it’s not without complications.

Let’s break down how these two teams could pull off a trade for the All-Star forward, via ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton.

Denver Nuggets: The Porter Dilemma

If the Nuggets are going to get serious about acquiring Butler, it likely hinges on how much they value 26-year-old Michael Porter Jr.

The Nuggets are in an interesting position, with their core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon locked up for the long haul after signing extensions. That leaves Porter, who is averaging 18.9 points per game this season, as their biggest trade chip.

Porter’s contract, which is worth $35.9 million this season and climbs to $38.3 million and $40.8 million in the following years, gives the Nuggets the financial flexibility to potentially match Butler’s salary.

But here’s the rub: Denver can’t trade Murray or Gordon because of their extension status, and they only have a few NBA draft assets to offer. The Nuggets’ lone asset is a 2031 first-round pick swap — hardly a lottery ticket.

So, if Denver is going to pry Butler away from Miami, they may have to get creative. One proposed deal looks like this:

Trade Proposal:

Nuggets get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji, 2026 first-round pick swap, 2031 first-round pick swap
Pistons get: Dario Saric

This trade works under the current financials, but there’s a significant catch: Miami would have to be comfortable with taking on a player like Nnaji, who has seen just 79 total minutes this season, and a couple of draft swaps.

Not exactly the haul you’d expect for a player of Butler’s caliber. Plus, there’s a chance that Miami might not be interested in a trade package that centers around Porter’s high salary and the uncertainty of future draft swaps.

San Antonio Spurs: The Wemby Timeline

The Spurs, sitting in a relatively comfortable position for a play-in spot, have an opportunity to accelerate their rebuild with a trade for Butler.

With Victor Wembanyama‘s development as the central piece of the franchise, adding a veteran like Butler could provide the team with a shot in the arm — immediately improving their chances at the playoffs.

But there’s a fine line here: acquiring Butler could stunt the development of the third-youngest roster in the league. San Antonio has to carefully weigh the benefits of pairing Butler with Wembanyama against the potential drawbacks of hampering the team’s youth movement.

Financially, the Spurs are in good shape. They have the contracts and draft picks to make a move without breaking the bank.

With $40 million in contracts to move, they could easily take on Butler’s $45 million salary.

Moreover, the Spurs have a bounty of draft picks at their disposal, with 12 first-rounders and 19 second-rounders over the next seven years. That’s a treasure trove that could entice Miami.

Trade Proposal:

Spurs get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Harrison Barnes, Malaki Branham, Keldon Johnson, 2025 first-round pick (protected)

This deal could work for both sides. The Heat would get a solid mix of young players and veterans in return. Johnson (25 years old) could be a long-term asset in Miami, and Barnes would provide the Heat with a versatile forward.

For San Antonio, pairing Butler with Wembanyama could significantly boost their NBA playoff hopes this season. The addition of a veteran like Butler could also help mentor their young guys as they continue their development.

However, Miami might not be too eager to take on Barnes’ contract, and they’d likely want more for a player of Butler’s caliber.

The inclusion of multiple first-round picks could be a sticking point, as the 2025 pick is likely to fall in the teens.

But with the Spurs holding such a deep pool of draft capital, they could sweeten the deal by adding additional picks or future considerations.

Conclusion

Both Denver and San Antonio present intriguing possibilities for a

Butler trade, but each team comes with its own set of challenges. The Nuggets would have to decide whether Porter is truly worth giving up, while the Spurs would need to balance the immediate desire for Butler’s star power against their long-term rebuild with Wembanyama.

Either way, one thing is clear: the February 6 trade deadline could bring some unexpected twists and turns as teams make their moves for the Heat star. The question remains — will they actually pull the trigger?