This week the Phoenix Suns were surprisingly linked with a trade for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, with the team named a desirable destination for the six-time all-star. Butler’s agent quickly shut down the link first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. However, Charania doubled down, emphasizing that the Suns were a team to ‘keep a very close eye on’.
Suns to Give Big 3 One More Chance Before Deciding on Butler Trade
John Gambadoro, a local Suns reporter, reported that Butler’s number one preferred choice is Phoenix. There is no deal imminent, but if the Suns wish to pursue this in the future, it would be a very difficult deal due to the team being above the second luxury tax apron.
The Next 10-15 Games Are Key
It has been a rollercoaster of a season for the Suns, who began the campaign 8-1 before a Kevin Durant injury saw them slip to 9-7. His return from a left calf strain lasted three games before he was sidelined once more with a sprained ankle. The Suns already had a poor 1-6 record in his absence, which has worsened to 1-9 following a winless three-game stretch. He is expected to return against the Utah Jazz on Friday.
He is not the only one who has suffered from the injury bug, as Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic have also dealt with extended periods out. It is for this reason that the Suns are not panicking and hastily looking into a deal for Butler. When healthy, the Suns are amongst the best teams in the league. They can also stake a claim as a serious title contender. The only problem is, that full health is a rarity for this side.
The Suns will hope their clean bill of health starts this weekend. Durant is the only name on the injury report, listed as probable. Gambadoro noted that the next 10-15 games are important in assessing the direction the team will go. Should the side get back to winning ways, conversations about a Butler trade will soon fade away. Continue losing, however, and those talks only get louder.
Butler Trade Improbable But Not Impossible
Butler on the Suns is an interesting thought, though not likely even if there was mutual interest between the two. They are unable to take back more money than sent out in a trade and are not allowed to aggregate salaries as a second apron team. Theoretically, the Suns can take on Butler’s salary, but if they were to exchange Beal, for example, the Heat would need to send back another veteran minimum contract to match as they are a first apron team.
A trade for Butler would certainly involve one of the big three, and that would likely be Beal. It is a move that would make sense for the Suns. Butler arguably provides a much better fit alongside Durant and Devin Booker. It also helps the Suns financially, who can get off Beal’s huge contract and reset, should Butler opt out of his contract at the end of the season.
However, Beal has a no-trade clause, which complicates matters. Beal had interest in Miami before his move to the Suns, but it was reported that the Heat were not as keen on the move. So it begs the question, why would Miami do this now? The simple answer is they probably will not, especially because other teams are also interested in acquiring Butler. This includes the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets,
If it reaches a point where Butler says it is Phoenix or nothing, it will lead to some intriguing discussions. The Heat would have to weigh up taking on a contract such as Beal or risk losing Butler for nothing. For now, this decision seems a long way from happening, if at all.
