NBA Trade Rumors: The Miami Heat could very well be ready to move on from Jimmy Butler, and perhaps sooner rather than later.
For the better part of the last six years, Jimmy Butler has been the face of the Miami Heat. However, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. It's becoming more and more clear that Jimmy's time with the Heat could be coming to that point. According to a recent report, the Heat are finally ready to listen to trade offers for Jimmy. As we inch closer to the trade deadline, it's certainly a possibility to watch.
Jimmy is in the final year of his contract with the Heat and wasn't able to agree to an extension this past summer. While many assumed that could spell the end of Jimmy's time with the Heat, there was still no certainty of that with both sides saying all the right things before the season. However, the writing may have already been on the wall. As he's gotten off to a solid start to the season, it's become pretty clear that he's no longer a player who can carry a team alone. With the way the Heat is built, it's probably in the best interest of both sides for this marriage to end. The question is, will that happen at the NBA Trade Deadline or during the offseason?
What teams could be suitors for Jimmy Butler?
The Heat will have a better shot to find a trade partner for Jimmy because he's in the final year of his contract but it certainly won't be easy or simple. There could be a limited value because of his age and contract situation, and the fact that he can be a free agent after this season. I'm not sure if there would be many teams lining up to take on just a few months of Jimmy for what they'd probably have to give up in a trade.
However, in the past, teams like the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and even the Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Jimmy. Whether any of those teams would still have any interest remains to be seen but it does appear as if the Heat is open to listening. Finding the right deal that works for all sides involved could be complicated and because of that, this could all result in Jimmy just playing out his contract with the Heat.
However, the fact that a trade of Jimmy is even a small possibility leading up to the deadline, it could certainly make for quite the interesting next couple of months in the NBA and, more specifically, in Miami. This could be a situation that is just beginning to develop into something much bigger.