Heat Make Decision on Jimmy Butler if Suns Trade Fails: Report
Jimmy Butler’s desire to land with the Phoenix Suns has taken center stage as trade rumblings swirl around the Miami Heat. The Suns appear to be firmly targeting the same end goal, but as the NBA has taught fans many times before, things are never quite that simple.
As the February 6 trade deadline rapidly approaches, the Heat and Suns are running out of time to find a way to make a deal work. So, it poses the next big question — what happens if a Butler-to-Phoenix trade simply doesn’t pan out?
Butler is unlikely to be thrilled with how that (very likely) scenario looks.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler continues to eye a trade to join Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
In a recent breakdown of the trade deadline and specifically Miami’s situation with Butler, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst offered a candid look into what would happen in that scenario. To put it simply, if the Heat and Suns can’t navigate the trade hurdles, Miami seems ready and willing to ship Butler to another team, regardless of his desire to land in Phoenix.
This comes on the heels of Windhorst reporting that the “only thing” Butler is focused on is landing with the Suns.
Considering Butler’s desire and the fact he has an opt-out in his contract, any other team’s interest in the six-time All-Star is extremely tough to gauge. The Golden State Warriors, as previously mentioned, remain linked to Butler, as they appear to be pushing hard to add another All-Star.
The question for the Warriors and any other team is what they’d be willing to send back in exchange for Butler when they may only be getting him on a half-season rental.
So, while Butler may not like an outcome that sends him anywhere other than Phoenix, it’s hard to envision the Heat walking away thrilled with their trade return in a deal with another franchise as well.
Time will tell if a deal comes together, but for now, the Heat and Suns appear to be attempting to sort out a way to make a trade happen.
