Breaking: Jimmy Butler’s Final Trade Preferences Send Shockwaves Through the NBA
Jimmy Butler has made it pretty clear that he is hoping to be traded from the Miami Heat. If for some reason that does not happen, it is almost certain that he will leave in the summer as a free agent, with the 35-year-old having a player option for next season.
But where will Butler be playing his basketball next? Well, there might not be too many options for the 35-year-old.
That is not just because of his age or injury history. It is also believed that Butler will turn down his player option as he wants a longer contract next summer. Not too many teams might be willing to meet his demands.
Butler does appear to have a preferred destination though and that is teaming up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the Phoenix Suns.
According to The Stein Line (via Hoops Hype): “Word has permeated the league that Jimmy Butler hopes to be traded to Phoenix. This is no exaggeration: Every high-ranking team official contacted by The Stein Line for this story shared their belief that the Suns are the destination Butler desires on the other side of his standoff with the Heat. You hear the same sentiment even from executives with teams that have been mentioned as potential Butler suitors.”
Rumors suggest that the Suns are willing to meet Butler’s expectations but that does not mean that a trade is definitely going to happen.
The Suns will still need to find a trade offer that the Heat will agree with and that might not be the easiest task, and it will most likely have to include Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause, going to Miami.
Of course, the idea of Butler teaming up with Durant and Booker is an intriguing one. That kind of a core could compete for a Championship for sure. It remains to be seen if it ends up becoming a reality.
