Butler for Zion. Who says no?
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 3:11 am
So Zion is pouting in NOLA, Jimmy is being a bad soldier in Miami.
Herb Jones seems like he would have to be included from a contract POV.
Other iteration could be with CJ swapped for Rozier
The meat of the deal is Zion for Butler.
Which team would say no?
In terms of rationale for each side:
Zion is locked into his contract, doesn't seem to want to be there, can't stay healthy, and it's unclear what his trade market is. Seems like big markets or bust. Unclear what those teams are willing to offer.
Butler probably won't want to play. He also will either opt-in to facilitate a sign and trade to a preferred destination who does not have cap space OR will simply walk.
Either way NOLA either frees up considerable cap space OR is able to trade Jimmy with more leverage either at the deadline or offseason because they don't mind losing and trading him for primarily draft capital. Heat have a very narrow goal.
Miami's rationale is simple: Zion is a force when he stomps onto the court. Like if Shaq, Vince Carter, and end-stage Charles Barkley all became one. Miami has a strict fitness rule and you can see it helped Shaq at the end of his career as well as Antione Walker at that same time. Kevin Love has been effective for Miami of course. It would probably be the biggest (pound for pound) gamble in Pat's tenure in Miami, but if it works, they would have a core of Bam, Herro, and Zion locked in.
Herb Jones seems like he would have to be included from a contract POV.
Other iteration could be with CJ swapped for Rozier
The meat of the deal is Zion for Butler.
Which team would say no?
In terms of rationale for each side:
Zion is locked into his contract, doesn't seem to want to be there, can't stay healthy, and it's unclear what his trade market is. Seems like big markets or bust. Unclear what those teams are willing to offer.
Butler probably won't want to play. He also will either opt-in to facilitate a sign and trade to a preferred destination who does not have cap space OR will simply walk.
Either way NOLA either frees up considerable cap space OR is able to trade Jimmy with more leverage either at the deadline or offseason because they don't mind losing and trading him for primarily draft capital. Heat have a very narrow goal.
Miami's rationale is simple: Zion is a force when he stomps onto the court. Like if Shaq, Vince Carter, and end-stage Charles Barkley all became one. Miami has a strict fitness rule and you can see it helped Shaq at the end of his career as well as Antione Walker at that same time. Kevin Love has been effective for Miami of course. It would probably be the biggest (pound for pound) gamble in Pat's tenure in Miami, but if it works, they would have a core of Bam, Herro, and Zion locked in.