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[Saba Sports News] One unexpected team may be entering the race to land Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, despite not being on his list of preferred destinations.
It was reported Friday that the Milwaukee Bucks are emerging as the “main dark horse” contender for a Butler trade. While the Bucks are in the second apron of the luxury tax—complicating any potential deal—Siegel notes that moving a player like Pat Connaughton in a separate trade could help Milwaukee maneuver under the second-apron cutoff. This would allow them to aggregate salaries, including forward Khris Middleton’s, to match Butler’s $48.7 million.
The 35-year-old Butler, who could leave as a free agent this summer, has reportedly expressed interest in heading to the Western Conference, with one particular team catching his eye. In fact, Butler has even warned teams not on his preferred list to avoid trading for him.
However, the Bucks might hold some unique advantages. Butler played college basketball at Marquette University in Milwaukee, and the team boasts a win-now core of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard—the latter being a player Butler has previously sought to team up with.
While it’s unclear if the Heat will be enticed by the Bucks’ potential trade package, Milwaukee appears ready to make a push to acquire the disgruntled superstar.