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[Saba Sports News] Jimmy Butler might not be on his way out of Miami after all.
According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, there is a “growing consensus” that the Heat will hold onto their All-Star forward through the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Marks notes that unless Butler becomes a distraction or Miami receives an irresistible trade offer, he is expected to remain with the team.
Butler, a six-time All-Star, has been the face of the Heat since 2019, leading them to two NBA Finals appearances. With his potential free agency looming this summer and no extension reached yet, trade speculation has grown. Several high-profile teams have been linked as potential suitors.
However, trading Butler would likely require the Heat to absorb a cumbersome contract (like Bradley Beal from Phoenix or Andrew Wiggins from Golden State) to meet salary-matching rules. Miami seems unwilling to make such a move, potentially playing a game of brinkmanship by keeping Butler past the deadline and betting on a sign-and-trade scenario if he chooses to leave.
This strategy might pay off. Butler holds a $52.4 million player option for next season, making a sign-and-trade viable if he opts in. As a soon-to-be 36-year-old, his ability to secure a massive payday from a contender in free agency is limited. Still, Miami faces the risk of Butler leaving outright for a non-competitive team with cap space to offer him a lucrative deal — and one such team has already been rumored to be on Butler’s radar.”