Heat’s Jimmy Butler reportedly favors trade out of Miami before NBA trade deadline

On By Littum

Jimmy Butler is ready for a new landscape.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, The Miami Heat star “prefers” a trade out of town before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. However, he reportedly has not formally asked the Heat for a trade.

Butler, 35, is in his 14th year in the NBA. He has been with the Heat since 2019. Miami is reportedly open to listening to offers for Butler, who above all wants a trade to a “win-now contender.” The teams Butler is open to reportedly include the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.

Butler and the Heat were unable to agree on a contract extension this summer, meaning he only has a $52 million player option remaining on his Heat contract. According to Shams, Butler has no plans to exercise that option, meaning he would become a free agent in July. He is currently averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 12: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on at the end of the game against the Toronto Raptors at the Kaseya Center on December 12, 2024 in Miami, Florida. NOTICE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph, User consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 12: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on at the end of the game against the Toronto Raptors at the Kaseya Center on December 12, 2024 in Miami, Florida. NOTICE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph, User consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat is reportedly open to a trade to a contending team, although he has not formally requested a trade. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

The Heat have been to the playoffs in five of Butler’s six full seasons in Miami. He hoped the Heat could be his chance to win the NBA Finals and get his long-awaited championship ring, and they came close several times. The Heat reached the finals in 2020, Butler’s first season in Miami, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 in the COVID-19 bubble finals. Three years later, the Heat were back in the Finals, but lost 4-1 to the Denver Nuggets.

The 2023–2024 season was the first time the Heat were not in the playoffs since Butler joined the team. They currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 14-13 record, above the play-in line, but still have quite a few games left to play.

While several teams have reportedly called to inquire about Butler’s availability, the Heat do not need to trade him. It’s their only chance to get a return on Butler, who could leave at the end of the season, but with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro set up as Miami’s future, they could absolutely keep Butler and see if they can make one last run at final before the Butler era ends.