Jimmy Butler Asks Heat For Trade, Open To Any Team

[purpleswordfish]

This will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Riley says no trade.
Jimmy says wants a trade.

If I were Riley, I’d keep him, make him forego his player option, take the 52 million salary cap relief.

"Making" a player forgo their option isn't a thing.

Even if Riley won't trade him and Butler decides he doesn't want to test UFA, Jimmy could still opt-in and then just "try" to make a nightmare situation to force a trade, like Harden did with Philly last offseason.

Would be interesting to see how Miami handles that -- pay him to go home maybe?

I guess what spree2kawhi is trying to say is that Miami has the leverage here. They don't have to trade Butler at all. Butler is under contract and if he really doesn't want to play for the Heat, he can opt out this summer. The thing is that he's going to almost certainly take a pay cut if he opts out of that last year. Players who are adamant about having extensions tacked on to their deals don't typically take pay cuts. That's why Jimmy Butler is opening the trade list so easily.

If I'm the Heat, I do what I've been doing and see what offers present themselves. I think they're right to not take back any bad contracts, especially given the situation of their payroll table and the CBA. If a bunch of half-hearted offers are coming in that don't make the team better and include bad contracts, just let him walk in the summer. Or, tell him to buck up and play out his contract. It's a business, they don't need to hook Jimmy Butler up with a trade to a preferred destination at the peril of their own organization.

I agree with you, it's going to be interesting.

[puja21]

If I were Riley, I’d keep him, make him forego his player option, take the 52 million salary cap relief.

"Making" a player forgo their option isn't a thing.

Even if Riley won't trade him and Butler decides he doesn't want to test UFA, Jimmy could still opt-in and then just "try" to make a nightmare situation to force a trade, like Harden did with Philly last offseason.

Would be interesting to see how Miami handles that -- pay him to go home maybe?

I guess what spree2kawhi is trying to say is that Miami has the leverage here. They don't have to trade Butler at all. Butler is under contract and if he really doesn't want to play for the Heat, he can opt out this summer. The thing is that he's going to almost certainly take a pay cut if he opts out of that last year. Players who are adamant about having extensions tacked on to their deals don't typically take pay cuts. That's why Jimmy Butler is opening the trade list so easily.

If I'm the Heat, I do what I've been doing and see what offers present themselves. I think they're right to not take back any bad contracts, especially given the situation of their payroll table and the CBA. If a bunch of half-hearted offers are coming in that don't make the team better and include bad contracts, just let him walk in the summer. Or, tell him to buck up and play out his contract. It's a business, they don't need to hook Jimmy Butler up with a trade to a preferred destination at the peril of their own organization.

I agree with you, it's going to be interesting.

Yes, history says Butler will lose probably 10M to 20M if he opts out

[tigerae]

If I were Riley, I’d keep him, make him forego his player option, take the 52 million salary cap relief.

That definitely doesn't help the Heat. They already have 3 big salaries on the payroll next season with Bam, Herro and Robinson. No big name free agents to target either come off-season. Honestly, their best move is to try to get young prospects and/or first round picks for the future. Then start a rebuild.

Since Butler appears to be willing to play for anyone, open it up and take the best deal on the table. A trade like the Jazz got for Gobert would be the best possible outcome, but if they can get multiple first round picks then that's the way to go.

Why on earth would any team give a first round pick for Butler at this point?

Because smaller market teams have no ability to attract top level players in free agency. As he said he's open to any team, it can definitely turn in to a bidding war if it really is true. Smaller market teams like Sacramento, for example, could try and trade for him in hopes they get him to stick around. This situation is more like Kawhi ending up in Toronto.

[artsncrafts]

That definitely doesn't help the Heat. They already have 3 big salaries on the payroll next season with Bam, Herro and Robinson. No big name free agents to target either come off-season. Honestly, their best move is to try to get young prospects and/or first round picks for the future. Then start a rebuild.

Since Butler appears to be willing to play for anyone, open it up and take the best deal on the table. A trade like the Jazz got for Gobert would be the best possible outcome, but if they can get multiple first round picks then that's the way to go.

Why on earth would any team give a first round pick for Butler at this point?

Because smaller market teams have no ability to attract top level players in free agency. As he said he's open to any team, it can definitely turn in to a bidding war if it really is true. Smaller market teams like Sacramento, for example, could try and trade for him in hopes they get him to stick around. This situation is more like Kawhi ending up in Toronto.

Sacramento makes sense as they are really poorly run.