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Jimmy Butler is starting to play hardball with the Miami Heat with his long-term future in South Florida the subject of increasing speculation.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Butler “prefers a trade out of Miami ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.”
The six-time All-Star set the stage for a showdown with Miami when Charania reported in June he intends to become a free agent after this season. That left the Heat weighing whether to cash in on a trade before the deadline or risk having him hit the open market.
Charania then reported on Dec. 10 the team is “open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right” and that Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, was indicating where his client hoped to land in any trade.
The latter detail produced a response from Lee, who said on social media the story was “complete and utter made up bulls–t” and “fabricated.” Charania maintains his reporting is accurate.
The newest development gives the impression Butler may try to force the issue soon. Anybody who remembers his exit from the Minnesota Timberwolves know how he can make a situation untenable.
However, the 35-year-old isn’t going scorched earth just yet. The Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson reported he hasn’t requested a trade and “would play out year here if Heat doesn’t trade him.” Jackson added that Miami is equally prepared to hold firm:
Butler and Lee may sense he doesn’t have the same kind of leverage he did when he almost single-handedly tanked Minnesota’s 2018-19 season.
General managers will look past a lot of old drama when a star player is in his prime. Front offices will be less inclined to put that aside when a player is on the wrong side of the aging curve.
In Butler’s case, the Heat’s first-round loss in last year’s playoffs and their 14-13 record to open 2024-25 will lead many to wonder whether he’s still capable of carrying a team like he did with Miami’s 2020 and 2023 Finals runs.
The trade deadline is more than a month away, so Wednesday’s news is unlikely to be the last word in the saga.
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