It is not difficult to envision that, given the Miami Heat’s current circumstances, star wing Jimmy Butler may be on the move in the coming days. Despite his talent, NBA postseason production, and leadership ability throughout the previous five seasons with the Heat, Butler missed 22 games and the whole playoffs this year due to injury. The Heat are not eager to trade Butler, but they may have no choice as the organization considers its future.
If the Heat do trade Butler, it will be to a contender—or a likely playoff team. The Knicks and a reunion with Tom Thibodeau have been discussed. The Sixers and their large cap space have been highlighted. The Warriors, Mavericks, and Lakers all appear to be intrigued.
However, the consensus around the NBA is that the Heat will not deal Butler simply to get rid of him. He is under contract for $49 million next season, with a player option for $53 million the following season. While most situations would require the Heat to either extend (he wants two more years) or trade Butler before he reaches the probable end of his deal, the Heat may risk that Butler’s situation is unique.
And, according to several NBA executives, there is a clear favored trade partner: the Warriors.
The Miami Heat need a Bam Adebayo co-star.
What’s the reason? While the best offers for Butler are primarily based on future draft picks, the Heat already have a player in his prime: Bam Adebayo, the 27-year-old center who will be the franchise’s face if Butler leaves.
The Heat are not dealing Butler to rebuild. They’d only deal him if they could acquire a younger star closer to Adebayo’s age in exchange. Last season, Adebayo averaged 19.3 points and 10.4 rebounds, placing him among the finest two-way players in the NBA.
Pat Riley, the team’s president, is not heading into the 2024-25 season with the goal of rebuilding. No way.
“If they’re going to start over, they’d need to trade Bam, too,” an NBA executive told Heavy Sports. “They aren’t doing that. They’ll want to send out Jimmy Butler to find a young player that complements what they’re attempting to do with Bam. The Miami Heat aren’t searching for picks. They aren’t looking for Julius Randle.
“The Warriors are the only team that can check every box for them.”
Randle would be the salary-matching chip that the Knicks could send back to Miami.
The Jimmy Butler trade would need to yield Jonathan Kuminga
What would a Warriors-Miami Heat trade based on Butler look like?
That gets hard, but the key would be two players who fit the Heat’s profile: Jonathan Kuminga, a young emerging star to pair with Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins, a quality two-way wing to replace Butler.
“Kuminga would be the key,” the executive explained. “He plays with so much force; he has the same ferocious approach as Bam. They want to play with force and physicality.
To make the deal work, the Warriors would need to add salaries for Gary Payton Jr. and another player. It should be emphasized that Golden State has shown no interest in dealing Kuminga, who began to thrive last season (16.1 points, 52.9% shooting).
However, if the Heat are serious about selling Butler, a Warriors deal featuring Wiggins and Kuminga as the starting point would be required.
