The Suns chasing Jimmy Butler sounds great in theory, but in reality? It’s a mess. Bradley Beal’s contract is weighing them down, and let’s be real—no one’s lining up to take it off their hands. Even if a team miraculously wanted him, Beal’s not exactly itching to waive his no-trade clause just to do Phoenix a favor. That deal has been an anchor, and the Suns haven’t found a way around it.
But here’s the thing—not every team is stuck in the same spot. Someone else might actually have a shot at making this happen. The Warriors aren’t dealing with a Beal-sized contract like the Suns, but that doesn’t mean their path to Jimmy Butler is any easier. Their issue? They don’t have one massive salary to match Butler’s deal. Instead, they’d have to string together multiple contracts, which creates its own set of problems.
But Draymond Green has gotten it down. On his podcast, Green explained just how tricky it would be to make the money work. “For instance, if you look at our roster, say you wanna trade—um, say you want to trade for Jimmy with at least the least amount of players that you could on our roster,” Green said. “That means either you got to trade Jimmy straight up for Steph. Yeah. Or you have to trade Jimmy for me and Wigs.”
February 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Team Durant forward Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (23, left) interviews Team LeBron forward Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat (22) during the fourth quarter in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Green highlights just how tough it would be for the Warriors to pull off a Butler trade. Curry’s max contract can match the 6x All-Star’s $52 million salary, or Andrew Wiggins’ $26 million combined with Green’s $24 million and another small contract can do the same. Neither option seems remotely likely or does it?
According to ESPN‘s Brian Windhorst, Pat Riley’s Heat has dropped their asking price for Butler after his indefinite suspension on Monday. This change has caught the attention of the Golden State Warriors, with Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor reporting that they’re now back in the mix for Butler.
And let’s be real, the fit is undeniable. The Warriors need that second scorer alongside Steph. In a Western Conference that’s up for grabs, adding Butler to the mix with Curry and Draymond would instantly make Golden State a nightmare for any team in a seven-game series—home-court advantage or not. It’s hard not to see the potential there.
Or will Jimmy Buckets go back to his former franchise?
Philadelphia 76ers star wants Jimmy Butler back
According to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the Philadelphia 76ers might sneak into the race for Butler, possibly swapping him for Paul George. Goodwill mentioned that Joel Embiid is behind the push to bring Butler back, saying, “I’ve heard that Philly quietly could be a suitor for Jimmy Butler…theoretically, it would be a Jimmy for Paul George swap. I believe that Embiid is pushing for them to reacquire Jimmy.”
But Butler’s latest indefinite suspension, his third this month, pretty much kills any chance of mending his relationship with the Heat. With the trade deadline looming on February 6, this suspension could work in Philly’s favor since Miami is reportedly lowering its price for Butler.
Apr 17, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) hugs Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) on the court after a 76ers victory in a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Still, if the Sixers want in, they’ve got issues to deal with. First off, they promised Paul George he wouldn’t be traded in the first year of his deal. Not to mention, George’s hefty contract doesn’t fit Miami’s long-term plans. The Heat are eyeing the 2026 free-agent class and need cap space, making George’s deal a problem.
And let’s be real: with Embiid only playing 13 games this season, it’s hard to see how Butler makes a huge difference. Unless the Sixers are just hoping to get back where they were last summer, there’s not much upside.
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