Butler to Spurs, Johnson to Kings, Heat/Spurs/Kings/Pistons

[Bentley1225]

Ill offer this idea for:
-Spurs decide to make a run in playoffs and look to get to 2nd round and beyond
-Heat get 2 1sts, significantly lower their immediate cap/tax bill and get contracts that expire in summer of 2026
-Kings get a young wing in Johnson
-Pistons leverage cap space to get a veteran PG in Jones to replace Ivey

To San Antonio (Trade Johnson, Collins, Jones, 2 1sts)
-Jimmy Butler (1 year, $48.8 milliom plus $52 million P.O.)
-Kevin Love (2 years, $8 million)
-Alec Burks (1 year, $2 million)

To Miami (Trade Butler, Love, Burks)
-Kevin Huerter (2 years, $34.2 million)
-Zach Collins (2 years, $34.8 million)
-Wendell Moore Jr. (1 year, $2.7 million plus T.O.)
-2025 Spurs 1st round pick (Top 10 protected)
-2026 Atlanta 1st round pick

To Sacrameto (Trade Huerter, 2nds)
-Keldon Johnson (3 years, $54 million)

To Detroit (Trade Moore)
-Tre Jones (1 year, $9 million)
-2025 Spurs 2nd round pick
-2028 Kings 2nd round pick

Why?
-Spurs swap Johnson for Butler, Collins for Love and Jones for Burks as Spurs look to solidify themselves as a top 6 seed if not higher
-Miami swaps Butler for Huerter, Love for Collins and Burks for Moore as they get 2 1sts and significantly reduce cap/tax bill and dont effect 2026 off-season flexibility.
-KIngs add a younger wing
-Pistons leverage cap space for 2 2nds as they get a veteran guard to replace Ivey

[BBallFreak]

I love the idea of getting two first round picks, but the players coming back just don't work for me. We don't need shooting guards at all and Collins is just never healthy.

[OxAndFox]

Not sure this is what the Kings would like to add. Another guy under 6'6 and one that is shooting even worse than Huerter.
Plus the Kings only 2nds they can send are:
2025 Chicago 2nd (protected to 55)
2029 Sacramento 2nd

And I will say if Huerter is the value of a 2 year deal instead of a 3 year deal, then the Kings need to get the value, otherwise maybe deal with what Miami want without the Kings?
I understand Keldon is the better player, but it's not enough IMO to make the trade and help the Spurs get Jimmy Butler.

Might be nitpicking a little too much though.

[wemby]

Spurs aren't trading for Jimmy Butler, period.

[One_and_Done]

Spurs aren't trading for Jimmy Butler, period.

Certainly not for two 1sts.

[Bentley1225]

Spurs aren't trading for Jimmy Butler, period.

Spurs are 4 games behind LAL for 6th seed. Adding Jimmy conceivably puts them in a good position to compete a playoff spot. Paul/Vassel/Butler/Barnes/Wemby

They could hypothetically put greater protections on their 2025 1st and the 2026 Hawks 1st.

[Bentley1225]

I love the idea of getting two first round picks, but the players coming back just don't work for me. We don't need shooting guards at all and Collins is just never healthy.

If the main MO for Heat is to maximize 2026 off-season flexibility then this is best route by getting 2 1sts in consecutive drafts and maintain flexibility. To make a move in summer of 2026 to add to Herro/Adebayo foundation.

[BBallFreak]

I love the idea of getting two first round picks, but the players coming back just don't work for me. We don't need shooting guards at all and Collins is just never healthy.

If the main MO for Heat is to maximize 2026 off-season flexibility then this is best route by getting 2 1sts in consecutive drafts and maintain flexibility. To make a move in summer of 2026 to add to Herro/Adebayo foundation.

It's not, though. It's one of two stated goals - they want to make the playoffs and they're looking for a player who can help them.

[Bentley1225]

I love the idea of getting two first round picks, but the players coming back just don't work for me. We don't need shooting guards at all and Collins is just never healthy.

If the main MO for Heat is to maximize 2026 off-season flexibility then this is best route by getting 2 1sts in consecutive drafts and maintain flexibility. To make a move in summer of 2026 to add to Herro/Adebayo foundation.

It's not, though. It's one of two stated goals - they want to make the playoffs and they're looking for a player who can help them.

Who can they get with 1 year left on their deal that is going to fill a big enough hole?. I’ve looked at the market and there is no one so either Heat decide to cannibalize 2026 cap flexibility by further competing now or take the draft picks and take a half a step back to take 2 steps ahead in summer of 2026.

[BBallFreak]

If the main MO for Heat is to maximize 2026 off-season flexibility then this is best route by getting 2 1sts in consecutive drafts and maintain flexibility. To make a move in summer of 2026 to add to Herro/Adebayo foundation.

It's not, though. It's one of two stated goals - they want to make the playoffs and they're looking for a player who can help them.

Who can they get with 1 year left on their deal that is going to fill a big enough hole?. I’ve looked at the market and there is no one so either Heat decide to cannibalize 2026 cap flexibility by further competing now or take the draft picks and take a half a step back to take 2 steps ahead in summer of 2026.

You're not looking very hard, obviously.

The rumored Milwaukee package actually helps and they can give us a 2031 first.

[wemby]

Spurs aren't trading for Jimmy Butler, period.

Spurs are 4 games behind LAL for 6th seed. Adding Jimmy conceivably puts them in a good position to compete a playoff spot. Paul/Vassel/Butler/Barnes/Wemby

They could hypothetically put greater protections on their 2025 1st and the 2026 Hawks 1st.

Spurs ultimate goal isn't making the 2025 playoffs, it's been pretty clear for anyone that has been watching their moves lately. They're trying to do a soft pivot to winning while being cautious with their assets and cap space. This move would go completely against everything they've done and stand for, burning assets and cap space to get a 35 year old with character issues. Really it's the anti Spur move. I'd say chances are zero, but I t wouldn't want to overstate them.

[Bentley1225]

It's not, though. It's one of two stated goals - they want to make the playoffs and they're looking for a player who can help them.

Who can they get with 1 year left on their deal that is going to fill a big enough hole?. I’ve looked at the market and there is no one so either Heat decide to cannibalize 2026 cap flexibility by further competing now or take the draft picks and take a half a step back to take 2 steps ahead in summer of 2026.

You're not looking very hard, obviously.

The rumored Milwaukee package actually helps and they can give us a 2031 first.

Milwaukee is significantly limited what they can do in terms of aggregating salaries to acquire Butler based on their over the 2nd apron. So I guess Kris Middleton is the answer?

[BBallFreak]

Who can they get with 1 year left on their deal that is going to fill a big enough hole?. I’ve looked at the market and there is no one so either Heat decide to cannibalize 2026 cap flexibility by further competing now or take the draft picks and take a half a step back to take 2 steps ahead in summer of 2026.

You're not looking very hard, obviously.

The rumored Milwaukee package actually helps and they can give us a 2031 first.

Milwaukee is significantly limited what they can do in terms of aggregating salaries to acquire Butler based on their over the 2nd apron. So I guess Kris Middleton is the answer?

A simple trade of Pat Connaughton into cap space allows them to aggregate. Middleton, Portis, and the 2031 first beats your deal easily

[Bentley1225]

You're not looking very hard, obviously.

The rumored Milwaukee package actually helps and they can give us a 2031 first.

Milwaukee is significantly limited what they can do in terms of aggregating salaries to acquire Butler based on their over the 2nd apron. So I guess Kris Middleton is the answer?

A simple trade of Pat Connaughton into cap space allows them to aggregate. Middleton, Portis, and the 2031 first beats your deal easily

A trade involving dumping assets with Connaughton is not easy give his current cap hit this season and the fact he’s likely to exercise his Player Option for next. It’s going to take more than their 2031 2nd to do that and they’re not going to burn a 1st to do that nor do they have another 2nd to deal.

[BBallFreak]

Milwaukee is significantly limited what they can do in terms of aggregating salaries to acquire Butler based on their over the 2nd apron. So I guess Kris Middleton is the answer?

A simple trade of Pat Connaughton into cap space allows them to aggregate. Middleton, Portis, and the 2031 first beats your deal easily

A trade involving dumping assets with Connaughton is not easy give his current cap hit this season and the fact he’s likely to exercise his Player Option for next. It’s going to take more than their 2031 2nd to do that and they’re not going to burn a 1st to do that nor do they have another 2nd to deal.

We shall see, but I don't see this is as am option.

Of course, flipping the picks and some of this salary to another team for a player who can help might be the way you should go, rather than telling us to take this deal whether we want it or not.

[Bentley1225]

A simple trade of Pat Connaughton into cap space allows them to aggregate. Middleton, Portis, and the 2031 first beats your deal easily

A trade involving dumping assets with Connaughton is not easy give his current cap hit this season and the fact he’s likely to exercise his Player Option for next. It’s going to take more than their 2031 2nd to do that and they’re not going to burn a 1st to do that nor do they have another 2nd to deal.

We shall see, but I don't see this is as am option.

Of course, flipping the picks and some of this salary to another team for a player who can help might be the way you should go, rather than telling us to take this deal whether we want it or not.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2026/position/sf/sort/contract_value

If youre trying to identify a viable wing who is a UFA in 2026 off-season, Middleton is the only viable starting veteran who fits the mold but his health is questionable. Taking Huerter, given his production relative to Middleton is not a significant drop off especially if the Heat get 1sts in 2025 and 2026 as the OP suggests to help them become relevant again in 2026-27 season.

[Kalamazoo317]

No thanks from Detroit. I don't think Tre Jones would play for us and two middling second round picks doesn't move the needle enough to give up cap space when we might be the only ones who can accommodate a lot of these trades.

[BBallFreak]

A trade involving dumping assets with Connaughton is not easy give his current cap hit this season and the fact he’s likely to exercise his Player Option for next. It’s going to take more than their 2031 2nd to do that and they’re not going to burn a 1st to do that nor do they have another 2nd to deal.

We shall see, but I don't see this is as am option.

Of course, flipping the picks and some of this salary to another team for a player who can help might be the way you should go, rather than telling us to take this deal whether we want it or not.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2026/position/sf/sort/contract_value

If youre trying to identify a viable wing who is a UFA in 2026 off-season, Middleton is the only viable starting veteran who fits the mold but his health is questionable. Taking Huerter, given his production relative to Middleton is not a significant drop off especially if the Heat get 1sts in 2025 and 2026 as the OP suggests to help them become relevant again in 2026-27 season.

It's not Middleton I want. How many freaking wings do we need? We have Herro, Jacquez, Robinson, Highsmith, and Burks. It's Portis. We need frontcourt depth. Ware and Bam can play together and Jovic has been excellent, but we could use another guy and Portis would be wonderful

Middleton, I would try and flip for a point guard.