The Miami Heat are ready to move on from Jimmy Butler – and they’re willing to take less to make it happen.
After suspending their star forward for the third time this month, the Heat have lowered their asking price in trade talks, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“The Heat are really, really trying to make this happen,” Windhorst said Tuesday on SportsCenter. “Their prices have come down, and what they’re willing to accept has widened.”
The latest drama unfolded Monday when Butler walked out of morning shootaround after learning he’d be replaced in the starting lineup by Haywood Highsmith. The team responded by suspending him for at least five games.
It’s been a rough stretch for the six-time All-Star, who’s played just five games since December 21.
The Phoenix Suns remain Butler’s preferred landing spot, but making a deal work isn’t simple. The Suns have been trying for weeks to put together multi-team trades, but they’re limited by what they can offer. Their main trade chip is Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause and isn’t drawing much interest.
Miami’s getting practical about what they’ll take back. They don’t want any big contracts that go beyond next season – unless teams sweeten the deal with draft picks, according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang.
The timing’s interesting. Butler’s five-game suspension runs through February 5, with the NBA trade deadline looming just one day later.
Meanwhile, the Heat (23-22) are trying to hold onto their playoff position. They’re currently sixth in the East, trailing the Indiana Pacers by two games and barely leading the Orlando Magic by half a game.
The next week could reshape Miami’s future. With more teams potentially joining trade talks, we might see some surprising moves before the deadline.
