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[Saba Sports News] Jimmy Butler may be gearing up for an exit from Miami.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported Wednesday that Butler is seeking a trade from the Heat ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. Charania noted an “escalation” in Butler’s situation and listed the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors as his top choices for win-now destinations.
The 35-year-old Butler, a six-time All-Star, has been with the Heat since 2019 but could opt out of his $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Renowned for his playoff heroics, Butler has led Miami to two improbable NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023. However, the Heat have stagnated while their Eastern Conference rivals have bolstered their rosters significantly.
The Milwaukee Bucks added Damian Lillard, the New York Knicks brought in Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Boston Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis en route to the 2024 NBA title. This disparity appears to have led Butler to doubt Miami’s championship viability.
Recent reports suggested the Heat intended to hold onto Butler through the trade deadline, potentially leveraging a sign-and-trade scenario this summer to facilitate his departure.
However, Butler seems unhappy with that approach and could be increasing pressure on Miami to act sooner, with other top teams also reportedly in the mix.