By ESPN | ESPN, 2025-01-28 05:56:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
涉及NBA球星的交易很少是凭空出现的。通常会有一个漫长的过程导致交易的发生——无论这个过程是公开的还是私下的。
去年春天，迈阿密热火队总裁帕特·莱利(Pat Riley)表示，球队将等到2025年夏天再讨论延长球星吉米·巴特勒的合同。这意味着在本赛季之前不会有任何续约。作为回应，巴特勒表示他打算放弃2025-26赛季的球员选项。
所以，我们现在面对的是一位球星，在本赛季结束后没有合同，球队和球员都放弃了续约的机会。
这是导致分道扬镳的因素，而且这种情况往往会变得很糟糕。在经历了数周的虚张声势之后，巴特勒最终在1月2日越过了卢比孔河，提出了交易请求。不到24小时后，迈阿密以“多次对球队有害的行为”为由，对巴特勒禁赛七场，并宣布将听取对这位35岁前锋的交易报价。
消息人士告诉ESPN的沙姆斯·查拉尼亚(Shams Charania)，1月14日，巴特勒告诉莱利，他不会在迈阿密签署新合同，并打算只利用他5200万美元的2025-26赛季球员选项作为交易策略。
巴特勒复出了三场比赛，然后在1月22日因错过球队飞往密尔沃基的航班而再次被禁赛。在缺席了两场比赛之后，这位心怀不满的球星在周一早上的训练中离开，球队无限期地禁赛了巴特勒。热火队曾告诉巴特勒他将成为替补，但现在他将被禁赛至少五场——这将持续到2月6日的交易截止日。
他仍然是一位极具天赋的球员，拥有丰富的季后赛成功经验。有些球队非常想要他。但热火队并不以妥协或向球星让步而闻名。
虽然还有其他一些全明星级别的球员可能会出现在交易市场上——包括布兰登·英格拉姆(Brandon Ingram)和扎克·拉文(Zach LaVine)——但巴特勒拥有最多的星光。如果一支球队需要一位改变比赛的球员，巴特勒必须在他们的名单上。这就是为什么他似乎是交易季的核心人物。—— 布莱恩·温德霍斯特(Brian Windhorst)
跳转到章节：
巴特勒和迈阿密目前的处境
交易方案，包括涉及五支球队的菲尼克斯交易
四支有交易可能的黑马球队
巴特勒和迈阿密目前的处境如何？
巴特勒本赛季的薪水为4880万美元，明年拥有5240万美元的球员选项。如果巴特勒被交易，他将有资格与新球队签署一份两年1.11亿美元的续约合同。
自由市场对巴特勒来说可能是一个挑战
35岁的巴特勒并不符合布鲁克林篮网队的阵容时间线，篮网队是唯一一支预计拥有超过4000万美元薪金空间的球队。
巴特勒可以选择在休赛期执行他的合同并要求被交易，但这需要热火队的配合。
巴特勒还有可能拒绝他的球员选项，然后迈阿密与他签约并将他交易到一支没有薪金空间的球队。这种情况就是巴特勒在2019年休赛期从费城被交易到迈阿密的方式。但那是在2017年的劳资协议下，当时的球队阵容建设限制较少。
一个不容忽视的情况是洛杉矶快船队在去年夏天所做的。
快船队没有用保罗·乔治(Paul George)交换会限制他们灵活性的合同，而是让乔治白白离开。
快船队能够利用省下的乔治的薪金空间签下詹姆斯·哈登(James Harden)、德里克·琼斯二世(Derrick Jones Jr.)、克里斯·邓恩(Kris Dunn)、尼古拉斯·巴图姆(Nicolas Batum)、小凯文·波特(Kevin Porter Jr.)和穆罕默德·班巴(Mo Bamba)。他们还与特伦斯·曼(Terance Mann)和伊维察·祖巴茨(Ivica Zubac)签下了续约合同。如果巴特勒选择不执行他的合同并在其他地方签约，热火队将在奢侈税线以下近5000万美元。
巴特勒的交易市场更加复杂
上个月，消息人士告诉查拉尼亚，巴特勒的首选交易目的地包括菲尼克斯太阳队、达拉斯独行侠队、休斯顿火箭队和金州勇士队。这四支球队中的三支——菲尼克斯、达拉斯和金州——需要交易四分之一的球员名单。与此同时，太阳队需要布拉德利·比尔(Bradley Beal)放弃他的不可交易条款。消息人士告诉ESPN，热火队不想接受比尔欠下的1.11亿美元，菲尼克斯需要找到第三支球队参与进来才能完成交易。勇士队和独行侠队也可能需要找到第三支或第四支球队来重新安排一些送出的合同。热火队也不允许接受更多的薪水，因为他们是一支硬工资帽球队。
在球场上，迈阿密能否在不牺牲未来财务灵活性的情况下交易巴特勒并在东部保持竞争力？巴特勒的出场次数有望达到自2018-19赛季以来的最高水平，并且他的投篮命中率达到了职业生涯最高的55.7%。—— 鲍比·马克斯(Bobby Marks)
四支难以得到巴特勒的球队
菲尼克斯太阳队
1月21日与犹他爵士队的交易为菲尼克斯提供了首轮选秀权的选择，可用于巴特勒的交易。
菲尼克斯现在可以交易2025年（克利夫兰或明尼苏达）、2027年（克利夫兰、明尼苏达、犹他）和2029年（克利夫兰、如果排名在第6到第30位则为明尼苏达、犹他）中最不利的首轮签，而不是之前仅有的2031年首轮签。
巴特勒登陆菲尼克斯仍然存在几个障碍。
太阳队已经超过了第二道硬工资帽线，并且不允许在巴特勒的交易中合并格雷森·艾伦(Grayson Allen)和尤瑟夫·努尔基奇(Jusuf Nurkic)的合同。由于这一限制，唯一匹配的合同是布拉德利·比尔的合同（太阳队不会交易凯文·杜兰特(Kevin Durant)或德文·布克(Devin Booker)）。
太阳队交易巴特勒取决于两件事：
- 比尔需要放弃他的不可交易条款；以及
- 迈阿密需要收回比尔在本赛季之后欠下的1.11亿美元，或者找到一支愿意接手比尔的第三方球队。（由于迈阿密没有表现出交易比尔的愿望，因此需要一支第三方球队。）
一个可行的交易方案
太阳队得到： 吉米·巴特勒，德朗·莱特(Delon Wright)
热火队得到： 小莱恩·邓恩(Ryan Dunn)，克里斯·米德尔顿(Khris Middleton)，鲍比·波蒂斯(Bobby Portis)，2029年克利夫兰、如果排名第6到第30位则为明尼苏达和犹他中最不利的首轮签，2031年与密尔沃基的互换权（如果排名第8到第30位）
公牛队得到： 布拉德利·比尔，2027年克利夫兰、明尼苏达和犹他中最不利的首轮签
雄鹿队得到： 扎克·拉文
奇才队得到： 马琼·博尚(MarJon Beauchamp)，2031年来自雄鹿队的次轮签
在这笔涉及五支球队的超级交易中，太阳队终于得到了巴特勒，但代价巨大。除了送出的两个首轮签外，珍贵的菜鸟小莱恩·邓恩也包含在交易中。菲尼克斯队被允许包含邓恩，因为他的薪水没有与比尔的薪水合并。考虑到具体情况，增加邓恩、2029年的首轮签以及2031年与密尔沃基互换首轮签的权利是最佳的交易方案。米德尔顿和波蒂斯在2025-26赛季都拥有球员选项。—— 马克斯
达拉斯独行侠队
独行侠队在常规赛期间一直很积极，在连续的交易截止日期交易得到了凯里·欧文(Kyrie Irving)、PJ·华盛顿(PJ Washington)和丹尼尔·加福德(Daniel Gafford)。
然而，交易巴特勒将是总经理尼科·哈里森(Nico Harrison)面临的最大挑战。
由于达拉斯再次彻底改造了他们的阵容，在休赛期增加了克莱·汤普森(Klay Thompson)、纳吉·马绍尔(Naji Marshall)和昆汀·格莱姆斯(Quentin Grimes)，他们在交易中被允许接受的薪水不超过送出薪水52.6万美元。
独行侠队确实有五名球员的收入在860万美元到1550万美元之间，但由于巴特勒的薪水规模和硬工资帽限制，达拉斯至少需要送出三名球员。—— 马克斯
一个可行的交易方案
独行侠队得到： 吉米·巴特勒
热火队得到： 布兰登·英格拉姆，纳吉·马绍尔，丹尼尔·泰斯(Daniel Theis)
鹈鹕队得到： 丹尼尔·加福德，德怀特·鲍威尔(Dwight Powell)，克莱·汤普森
活塞队得到： 马克西·克莱贝尔(Maxi Kleber)，2025年达拉斯的首轮签（前14顺位保护）
这是最复杂的交易，需要四支球队才能让三支有奢侈税或硬工资帽顾虑的球队避免增加薪水。其结果是达拉斯将角色球员换成了巴特勒，迈阿密得到了英格拉姆作为更年轻——也可能更便宜——的替代者，而新奥尔良节省了资金并通过首发中锋和NBA历史上最伟大的射手之一重新平衡了他们的轮换阵容。底特律利用他们的薪金空间来承担克莱贝尔的合同，该合同将持续到2025-26赛季。—— 凯文·佩尔顿(Kevin Pelton)
金州勇士队
勇士队与达拉斯的处境相似。金州在休赛期增加了巴迪·希尔德(Buddy Hield)、凯尔·安德森(Kyle Anderson)和德安东尼·梅尔顿(De’Anthony Melton)，从而触发了第一道硬工资帽。（梅尔顿随后被送往布鲁克林换取丹尼斯·施罗德(Dennis Schroder)。）由于这一限制，金州不允许接受超过送出薪水33万美元的薪水。
勇士队确实拥有完成巴特勒交易并仍然低于硬工资帽的合同。包括安德鲁·威金斯(Andrew Wiggins)2630万美元的薪水，金州有七名球员的收入在580万美元到1300万美元之间。其中四名球员——施罗德、加里·佩顿二世(Gary Payton II)、凯文·鲁尼(Kevon Looney)和乔纳森·库明加(Jonathan Kuminga)——的合同即将到期。为了接受巴特勒的薪水，勇士队需要送出至少四名球员，并在他们的阵容补齐后仍然低于第一道硬工资帽。—— 马克斯
一个可行的交易方案
勇士队得到： 吉米·巴特勒
热火队得到： 凯尔·安德森，加里·佩顿二世，安德鲁·威金斯，2025年勇士队的首轮签（前四顺位保护），2028年勇士队的首轮签
活塞队得到： 凯文·鲁尼，2026年湖人队的次轮签（来自热火队）
金州可以选择各种交易方案，包括移动乔纳森·库明加和新近续约的摩西·穆迪(Moses Moody)。勇士队也可以选择交易最近获得的施罗德，只要交易在交易截止日或前一天完成。从财务角度来看，迈阿密最好优先考虑以威金斯为中心的较短合同作为巴特勒的替代者。这意味着对热火队来说，这里的大部分价值在于两个首轮签，尽管他们必须放弃一个次轮签来摆脱鲁尼的薪水并使这笔交易合法。—— 佩尔顿
休斯顿火箭队
休斯顿最符合巴特勒首选球队的财务灵活性、可交易合同和选秀资产的要求。然而，火箭队总经理拉斐尔·斯通(Rafael Stone)表示，他预计不会对阵容进行更改。
“我们当然希望这支球队今年尽可能地好，然后我们会在年底评估情况，”斯通上个月告诉SiriusXM电台。“但我们非常希望这支核心团队能够带领我们走向我们想去的地方，并且——从交易的角度来看——我们基本上已经完成了。”但如果斯通能够在不放弃任何年轻球员的情况下得到巴特勒会发生什么？—— 马克斯
一个可行的交易方案
火箭队得到： 吉米·巴特勒
热火队得到： 史蒂文·亚当斯(Steven Adams)，狄龙·布鲁克斯(Dillon Brooks)，杰夫·格林(Jeff Green)，2027年首轮签（布鲁克林和休斯顿中较差的），2029年首轮签（达拉斯、休斯顿和菲尼克斯中第二好的）
就资金而言，这对迈阿密来说是最合适的，这将使他们本赛季的薪水减少约600万美元，到2025-26赛季还会减少更多，届时亚当斯和格林都将成为自由球员。这给热火队留下了布鲁克斯作为巴特勒的防守型替代者，外加两个额外的首轮签。休斯顿将在不放弃任何其他核心球员的情况下从布鲁克斯升级到巴特勒，尽管这会牺牲未来的灵活性。—— 佩尔顿
四支有现实路径交易巴特勒的黑马球队
孟菲斯灰熊队
灰熊队与多里安·芬尼-史密斯(Dorian Finney-Smith)联系在一起，之后由于在选秀补偿问题上的分歧，与布鲁克林的谈判破裂。这笔失败的交易中的积极性表明了孟菲斯致力于加强其已经位列西部前三的战绩的决心。孟菲斯有一条在不放弃贾·莫兰特(Ja Morant)、小贾伦·杰克逊(Jaren Jackson Jr.)和德斯蒙德·贝恩(Desmond Bane)的情况下得到巴特勒，并且仍然低于第一道硬工资帽的途径。
灰熊队有四份合同——马库斯·斯马特(Marcus Smart)、布兰登·克拉克(Brandon Clarke)、卢克·肯纳德(Luke Kennard)和约翰·孔查尔(John Konchar)——与巴特勒欠下的4880万美元相匹配。孟菲斯在未来七年也拥有自己的首轮签。
最大的问题是孟菲斯是否愿意续约巴特勒或在夏天与他签署一份新合同。灰熊队下赛季已经向莫兰特、贝恩和杰克逊承诺了1亿美元。（杰克逊将在2026年成为自由球员。）
一个可行的交易方案：
灰熊队得到： 吉米·巴特勒
热火队得到： 马库斯·斯马特，布兰登·克拉克，约翰·孔查尔，2025年首轮签（前15顺位保护）
奇才队得到： 卢克·肯纳德和2027年次轮签（来自亚特兰大）
活塞队得到： 约什·理查德森(Josh Richardson)和现金
这笔交易将为迈阿密带来三名轮换球员——斯马特、克拉克和孔查尔，并让热火队在东部保持竞争力。由于肯纳德在这笔交易中被重新安排到底特律，热火队本赛季将低于第一道硬工资帽，低于奢侈税15.2万美元。至于明年，热火队将在奢侈税线以下800万美元，拥有14名签约球员。—— 马克斯
密尔沃基雄鹿队
雄鹿队一直积极地最大化扬尼斯·阿德托昆博(Giannis Antetokounmpo)的冠军窗口。
自从乔恩·霍斯特(Jon Horst)在2017年6月晋升为总经理以来，密尔沃基已经进行了28笔交易。他得到了埃里克·布莱索(Eric Bledsoe)、乔治·希尔(George Hill)、尼古拉·米罗蒂奇(Nikola Mirotic)、朱·霍勒迪(Jrue Holiday)、PJ·塔克(PJ Tucker)、格雷森·艾伦、塞尔吉·伊巴卡(Serge Ibaka)、杰·克劳德(Jae Crowder)、达米安·利拉德(Damian Lillard)和帕特里克·贝弗利(Patrick Beverley)。这些交易花费了密尔沃基七个首轮签、三年选秀权互换和18个次轮签。这些交易，尤其是得到霍勒迪和塔克的交易，在密尔沃基赢得自1971年以来的第一个NBA总冠军的过程中发挥了关键作用。
交易巴特勒将是霍斯特面临的最大挑战。密尔沃基不仅超过第二道硬工资帽650万美元，而且只有两个选秀权可供交易：他们的2031年首轮和次轮签。（然而，第二道硬工资帽规则规定，如果交易后薪水低于门槛，则允许球队合并合同。）
为了实现这一点，雄鹿队需要将克里斯·米德尔顿和鲍比·波蒂斯送到迈阿密，然后找到第三支球队接手帕特·康诺顿(Pat Connaughton)。这将使密尔沃基低于第二道硬工资帽70万美元。
一个可行的交易方案：
雄鹿队得到： 吉米·巴特勒
热火队得到： 克里斯·米德尔顿，鲍比·波蒂斯，2031年首轮签（前10顺位保护）
活塞队得到： 帕特·康诺顿，2031年次轮签，现金
虽然这笔交易将有利于密尔沃基，但迈阿密和底特律有什么动力呢？
米德尔顿，他可能会选择执行下赛季3400万美元的球员选项，在休赛期接受了双脚踝关节镜手术，并错过了前25场比赛。他连续第三个赛季的出场次数将少于55场。与此同时，如果波蒂斯拒绝他1340万美元的球员选项，他可以在明年夏天成为自由球员。
对于活塞队来说，用一个次轮签来换取康诺顿下赛季欠下的940万美元是一个亏本的买卖。—— 马克斯
丹佛掘金队
丹佛是否参与交易巴特勒取决于他们对26岁的侧翼迈克尔·波特二世(Michael Porter Jr.)的重视程度。
由于掘金队不能交易阿隆·戈登(Aaron Gordon)和贾马尔·穆雷(Jamal Murray)（两人都在休赛期签署了续约合同），波特3590万美元的薪水是他们最大的交易筹码。丹佛拥有的唯一选秀资产是2031年的选秀权互换。
波特在本赛季之后还有两年合同（3830万美元和4080万美元），场均得分18.9分，仅次于尼古拉·约基奇(Nikola Jokic)，位列全队第二。
掘金队低于第二道硬工资帽510万美元，并且不允许在交易中接受更多的钱。如果他们保持在门槛以下，则允许合并合同。—— 马克斯
一个可行的交易方案
掘金队得到： 吉米·巴特勒
热火队得到： 齐克·纳吉(Zeke Nnaji)，迈克尔·波特二世，2026年首轮互换权，2031年首轮互换权
活塞队得到： 达里奥·沙里奇(Dario Saric)
注意：掘金队可以交换他们的2026年首轮签，但前提是他们2025年欠丹佛的首轮签在今年兑现。
丹佛没有可交易的选秀权，只能向迈阿密提供互换权，以从巴特勒换成波特，并承担纳吉的合同，纳吉本赛季只打了79分钟，合同签到了2027-28赛季。这对热火队来说听起来很难接受。—— 佩尔顿
圣安东尼奥马刺队
马刺队正在争夺附加赛的席位，交易巴特勒将加速围绕维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)的时间线。这也可能会阻碍NBA第三年轻的阵容的发展。
圣安东尼奥拥有合同、选秀权，并且在财务上处于有利地位，可以在交易中接下巴特勒。由于远低于硬工资帽线，圣安东尼奥只需要送出4000万美元的合同。不包括文班亚马，马刺队有七名球员的收入在900万美元到3000万美元之间。
在接下来的七年里，马刺队有12个首轮签和19个次轮签可供交易。—— 马克斯
一个可行的交易方案
马刺队得到： 吉米·巴特勒
热火队得到： 哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)，马拉基·布拉纳姆(Malaki Branham)，凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)，2025年首轮签（亚特兰大、前14顺位保护的夏洛特、前10顺位保护的芝加哥和圣安东尼奥中最差的）
由于迈阿密可能不想接受扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)的合同，圣安东尼奥可能必须在任何巴特勒交易报价中同时包含巴恩斯和约翰逊。这两人都有可能在热火队担任首发前锋，而约翰逊（25岁）可能会成为迈阿密的长期贡献者。马刺队可能不需要包含多个首轮签，因为他们送出的那个首轮签很可能在六月的选秀中排在十几位。—— 佩尔顿
点击查看原文：How Jimmy Butler's preferred trade destinations can land him
How Jimmy Butler’s preferred trade destinations can land him
Trades featuring NBA stars rarely come out of the blue. There is often a long process that leads up to one – whether it unfolds publicly or privately.
Last spring, Miami Heat president Pat Riley indicated that the team would wait until summer 2025 to address extending star Jimmy Butler’s contract. That meant no extension before this season. In return, Butler made it known that his intention was to bypass his player option for the 2025-26 campaign.
So, here we have a star player with no contract in place after the current season, with both the team and the player passing on chances to extend.
This is a recipe for a divorce and often these situations turn ugly. This one has, with Butler finally crossing the Rubicon and asking for a trade on Jan. 2 after weeks of saber rattling. Miami suspended Butler for seven games less than 24 hours later – citing “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team” – and the franchise announced it would listen to trade offers for the 35-year-old forward.
Butler then told Riley that he will not sign a new deal in Miami and intends to only use his $52 million player option for 2025-26 as a trade maneuver, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Jan. 14.
Butler returned for three games and then received a second suspension on Jan. 22 after he missed a team flight to Milwaukee. After sitting out two more games, the team indefinitely suspended Butler on Monday when the disgruntled star walked out of morning practice. The Heat had told Butler he’d come off the bench moving forward but now he’ll be suspended for no fewer than five games – which goes through the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
He is still a major talent with a long history of playoff success. There are teams that would dearly want him. But the Heat are not known for compromising or giving in to stars.
While there are a few other players at an All-Star level who could find themselves available on the trade market – including Brandon Ingram and Zach LaVine – Butler has the most star power. If a team needs a difference-maker, Butler has to be on its list. And that is why he appears to be the centerpiece of trade season. – Brian Windhorst
Jump to a section:\
**Where Butler and Miami stand right now\
Deals, including to Phoenix in a 5-team trade\
Four wild-card teams with trade paths**
Where do Butler and Miami stand right now?
Butler has a $48.8 million salary this season and a $52.4 million player option next year. If Butler were traded, he would be eligible to sign a two-year $111 million extension with his new team.
Free agency could present a challenge for Butler
Butler, 35, does not fit the roster timeline of the Brooklyn Nets, the only team that projects to have more than $40 million in cap space.
Butler could opt in to his contract in the offseason and ask to be traded, but that would require cooperation from the Heat.
There is also still the chance of Butler declining his option and Miami signing and then trading him to a team that does not have room. This scenario is how Butler was traded from Philadelphia to Miami in the 2019 offseason. But that was under the 2017 collective bargaining agreement when roster building was less restrictive.
One scenario that should not be overlooked is what the LA Clippers did this past summer.
Instead of trading Paul George for contracts that would tie up their flexibility, the Clippers let George walk for nothing.
The Clippers were able to use the George savings and sign James Harden, Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, Nicolas Batum, Kevin Porter Jr. and Mo Bamba. They also signed Terance Mann and Ivica Zubac to contract extensions. The Heat would be nearly $50 million below the luxury tax line if Butler opts out of his contract and signs elsewhere.
Butler’s trade market is even more complicated
Last month, sources told Charania that Butler’s list of preferred trade destinations included the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. Three of those four teams – Phoenix, Dallas and Golden State – would need to trade a quarter of their roster. The Suns meanwhile, would need to have Bradley Beal waive his no trade clause. Sources told ESPN that the Heat have no desire to take back the $111 million owed to Beal and that Phoenix would need to find a third team to get involved to make a deal work. The Warriors and Mavericks would also likely need to find a third or fourth team to reroute some of the contracts sent out. The Heat also are not allowed to take back more salary, because they are an apron team.
On the court, can Miami trade Butler and remain competitive in the Eastern Conference without sacrificing future financial flexibility? Butler had been on pace to play his most games since 2018-19 and is shooting a career-high 55.7% from the field. – Bobby Marks
Four teams with an uphill climb in acquiring Butler
Phoenix Suns
The Jan. 21 trade with Utah gives Phoenix optionality in first-round picks available to use in a Butler trade.
Instead of the lone 2031 first that was available, Phoenix is allowed to trade the least favorable firsts in 2025 (Cleveland or Minnesota), 2027 (Cleveland, Minnesota, Utah) and 2029 (Cleveland, Minnesota if in the Nos. 6 to 30 range, Utah).
There are several roadblocks that remain for Butler to land in Phoenix.
The Suns are over the second apron and are not allowed to aggregate the contracts of Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic in a Butler trade. Because of this restriction, the only contract that matches is that of Bradley Beal (the Suns are not trading Kevin Durant or Devin Booker).
The Suns trading for Butler comes down to two things:
- Beal would need to waive his no-trade clause, and;
- Miami would need to take back the $111 million owed to Beal after this season or find a third team willing to take on Beal. (Because Miami has not shown a desire to trade for Beal, a third team would be needed.)
One trade that works
Suns get: Jimmy Butler, Delon Wright
Heat get: Ryan Dunn, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, 2029 less favorable first-round pick of Cleveland, Minnesota if No. 6 to No. 30 and Utah, 2031 swap rights with Milwaukee (if No. 8 to No. 30)
Bulls get: Bradley Beal, 2027 less favorable first (Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah)
Bucks get: Zach LaVine
Wizards get: MarJon Beauchamp, 2031 second (from Milwaukee)
In this five-team megadeal, the Suns finally get Butler but at a significant cost. Besides the two first-round picks sent, prized rookie Ryan Dunn is included in the trade. Phoenix is allowed to include Dunn because his salary is not aggregated with Beal’s. The addition of Dunn, a first-rounder in 2029 and the right to swap firsts with Milwaukee in 2031 is the best available trade package considering the circumstances. Middleton and Portis each have player options in 2025-26. – Marks
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have been aggressive during the regular season, trading for Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford in consecutive trade deadlines.
Trading for Butler, however, would present GM Nico Harrison with his biggest challenge.
Because Dallas overhauled their roster once again, adding Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes in the offseason, they are not allowed to take back more than $526K of salary in a trade than what is sent out.
The Mavericks do have five players earning between $8.6 million and $15.5 million, but because of the size of Butler’s salary and the apron restriction, Dallas would need to send out a minimum of three players. – Marks
One trade that works
Mavericks get: Jimmy Butler\
Heat get: Brandon Ingram, Naji Marshall, Daniel Theis\
Pelicans get: Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell, Klay Thompson\
Pistons get: Maxi Kleber, 2025 DAL 1 (top-14 protected)
This is the most complicated trade, requiring four teams to allow the three with tax or apron concerns to avoid adding salary. The upshot here is Dallas turning role players into Butler, Miami getting back Ingram as a younger – and possibly cheaper – replacement, and New Orleans saving money and rebalancing its rotation with a starting center and one of the great shooters in NBA history. Detroit uses its cap space to take on Kleber’s contract, which runs through 2025-26. – Kevin Pelton
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are in a similar position to Dallas. Golden State added Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson and De’Anthony Melton in the offseason, thus triggering the first apron hard cap. (Melton was then sent to Brooklyn for Dennis Schroder.) Because of the restriction, Golden State is not allowed to take back more than $330K in salary sent.
The Warriors do have the contracts to make a Butler trade and still remain below the hard cap. Including Andrew Wiggins’ $26.3 million salary, Golden State has seven players earning between $5.8 million to $13 million. Four of those players – Schroder, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney and Jonathan Kuminga – are on expiring contracts. To take back the Butler salary, the Warriors would need to send out at least four players and remain under the first apron after their roster is filled out. – Marks
One trade that works\
Warriors get: Jimmy Butler\
Heat get: Kyle Anderson, Gary Payton II, Andrew Wiggins, 2025 Warriors first-round pick (top-four protected), 2028 Warriors first-round pick\
Pistons get: Kevon Looney, 2026 Lakers second-round pick (via Heat)
Golden State can choose from a variety of trade options, including moving Jonathan Kuminga and newly extended Moses Moody. The Warriors could also choose to deal the recently acquired Schroder, so long as a deal is completed at the trade deadline or the day before. From a financial standpoint, Miami probably would be best off prioritizing shorter contracts around Wiggins as a Butler replacement. That means most of the value to the Heat here is in two first-round picks, though they have to give up a second-rounder to shed Looney’s salary and make this trade legal. – Pelton
Houston Rockets
Houston best checks the boxes of financial flexibility, tradable contracts and draft assets of Butler’s preferred teams. Rockets GM Rafael Stone, however, said he anticipates no changes to the roster.
“We definitely want this group to be as good as it can be this year and then we’ll evaluate things at the end of the year,” Stone told SiriusXM radio last month. “But the hope is very much that this core group can lead us to where we want to go and that – from a transactional perspective – we’re largely done.” But what happens if Stone can acquire Butler without giving up any young players? – Marks
One trade that works
Rockets get: Jimmy Butler\
Heat get: Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green, 2027 first-round pick (worse of Brooklyn and Houston), 2029 first-round pick (second-best of Dallas, Houston and Phoenix)
In terms of money, this is the cleanest fit for Miami, which would cut its salary about $6 million this season and even more in 2025-26, when Adams and Green are both free agents. That leaves the Heat with Brooks as a defensive-minded replacement for Butler, plus the two extra first-round picks. Houston would upgrade from Brooks to Butler without giving up any other core players, albeit at the expense of future flexibility. – Pelton
Four wild-card teams with realistic paths to a Butler trade
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies were linked to Dorian Finney-Smith before talks fell through with Brooklyn over a disagreement on draft compensation. The aggressiveness in the failed trade showed a commitment by Memphis to strengthen its already top-three record in the West. Memphis has a pathway to acquire Butler without giving up Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane and still remain under the first apron.
The Grizzlies have four contracts – Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard and John Konchar – that match up to the $48.8 million owed to Butler. Memphis also has its own first-round pick in the next seven years.
This big question is whether Memphis is comfortable extending Butler or signing him to a new contract in the summer. The Grizzlies have $100 million committed to Morant, Bane and Jackson next season. (Jackson is a free agent in 2026.)
One trade that works:
Grizzlies get: Jimmy Butler\
Heat get: Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, 2025 first (top-15 protected)\
Wizards get: Luke Kennard and 2027 second (via Atlanta)\
Pistons get: Josh Richardson and cash
A trade would give Miami three rotational players in Smart, Clarke and Konchar and allow the Heat to remain competitive in the East. Because Kennard is rerouted to Detroit in this deal, the Heat would drop below the first apron this season and $152,000 below the luxury tax. As for next year, the Heat would be $8 million below the luxury tax with 14 players under contract. – Marks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have been aggressive in maximizing the Giannis Antetokounmpo championship window.
Since Jon Horst was promoted to GM in June 2017, Milwaukee has made 28 trades. He has acquired Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, Nikola Mirotic, Jrue Holiday, PJ Tucker, Grayson Allen, Serge Ibaka, Jae Crowder, Damian Lillard and Patrick Beverley. The trades cost Milwaukee seven first-round picks, three years of pick swaps and 18 second-rounders. The trades, especially the one to acquire Holiday and Tucker, played a pivotal part in Milwaukee winning its first NBA title since 1971.
Trading for Butler would be Horst’s biggest challenge. Not only is Milwaukee $6.5 million over the second apron but it has just two draft picks available to trade: its 2031 first- and second-rounders. (However, the second apron rules state that a team is allowed to aggregate contracts if the post-transactional salary is below the threshold.)
For the Bucks to accomplish this, they would need to send Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis to Miami, then find a third team to take back Pat Connaughton. That would leave Milwaukee $700,000 below the second apron.
One trade that works:
Bucks get: Jimmy Butler\
Heat get: Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, 2031 first-round pick (top-10 protected)\
Pistons get: Pat Connaughton, 2031 second-round pick, cash
While this trade would benefit Milwaukee, what incentive would Miami and Detroit have?
Middleton, who will likely opt in to his $34 million player option for next season, underwent arthroscopic surgery on both ankles in the offseason and missed the first 25 games. He is on pace to play fewer than 55 games for a third straight season. Portis, meanwhile, can be a free agent next summer if he declines his $13.4 million player option.
For the Pistons, a second-round pick to take back the $9.4 million owed to Connaughton next season is a negative. – Marks
Denver Nuggets
Denver getting involved in trading for Butler comes down to how much it values 26-year old wing Michael Porter Jr.
Because the Nuggets cannot trade Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray (both signed extensions in the offseason), Porter’s $35.9 million salary is their biggest trade chip. The lone draft asset Denver has is a pick swap in 2031.
Porter has two years remaining ($38.3 and $40.8 million) after this season and is averaging 18.9 points, second highest on the team behind Nikola Jokic.
The Nuggets are $5.1 million below the second apron and are not allowed to take back more money in a trade. They are allowed to aggregate contracts if they remain below the threshold. – Marks
One trade that works
Nuggets get: Jimmy Butler\
Heat get: Zeke Nnaji, Michael Porter Jr., 2026 first-round swap, 2031 first-round swap\
Pistons get: Dario Saric
Note: The Nuggets can swap their 2026 first, but only if their 2025 first to Denver is conveyed this year.
Denver has no tradable draft picks and could only offer Miami swaps to go from Butler to Porter and take on the contract of Nnaji, who has played just 79 total minutes this season and is signed through 2027-28. That sounds like a hard sell to the Heat. – Pelton
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are competing for a spot in the play-in, and trading for Butler accelerates the timeline around Victor Wembanyama. It could also stunt the development of the third-youngest roster in the NBA.
San Antonio has the contracts, draft picks and is well positioned financially to take back Butler in a trade. Because it is well below the apron, San Antonio would only need to send out $40 million in contracts. Not including Wembanyama, the Spurs have seven players earning between $9 million and $30 million.
Over the next seven years, the Spurs have 12 first-rounders and 19 second-rounders available to trade. – Marks
One trade that works
Spurs get: Jimmy Butler\
Heat get: Harrison Barnes, Malaki Branham, Keldon Johnson, 2025 first-round pick (worst of Atlanta, Charlotte top-14 protected, Chicago top-10 protected and San Antonio)
Since Miami likely would not be interested in taking back Zach Collins’ contract, San Antonio probably would have to include both Barnes and Johnson in any Butler trade offer. It’s possible both could start at forward for the Heat, and Johnson (age 25) could be a long-term contributor in Miami. The Spurs probably don’t need to include multiple first-round picks because the one they’re sending is likely to be in the teens in June’s draft. – Pelton
By ESPN | ESPN, via ESPN