The Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler might not prefer to part ways, but certain circumstances could force a decision down the line. If the Heat begin the regular season poorly and Butler’s injury issues persist, it may lead to a significant trade near the deadline. One team that would likely show interest in Butler is the Golden State Warriors, who are still in title contention with Stephen Curry leading the charge.
Bleacher Report has proposed a potential four-team trade scenario that could land Butler with the Warriors. In this deal, the Warriors would receive Butler from the Heat and Anton Watson from the Celtics. Meanwhile, the Heat would get Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga from the Warriors, as well as a $14.9 million trade exception for Butler. The Detroit Pistons would receive Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, several second-round draft picks, and cash considerations from both the Warriors and Heat. Lastly, the Boston Celtics would receive a financial contribution from Miami.
Although this trade would give the Warriors another All-Star caliber player to boost their championship hopes, the Heat’s president, Pat Riley, may want more significant draft assets in exchange for Butler. Losing Butler would require the Heat to focus on rebuilding a title-worthy team around Bam Adebayo. Trading a six-time All-Star like Butler would likely signal the start of a longer-term rebuild for Miami, as the team would need to accumulate the right pieces to compete for a championship again.
For now, the future of Butler with the Heat is uncertain, but if injuries or underperformance push Miami toward a tough decision, a blockbuster trade could come into play, especially with interested contenders like Golden State watching closely.
