Suns Only Team Ready To Pay Jimmy Butler Contract He Seeks

[RealGM Wiretap]

While there have been additional issues to come up along the way, the devolving relationship between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat is about money, explains Brian Windhorst. The Heat decided not to offer Butler a two-year, $113 million extension last offseason and his current agitation for a trade is about his desire to secure his next contract. Butler would like a trade to the Phoenix Suns who are reportedly prepared to sign him to the type of multi-year contract he is seeking.

"We have a big problem here because Jimmy Butler isn't going to extend with any team," said Windhorst on First Take on Tuesday. "Because teams know that, they are offering the Heat right now the poo poo platter.

"There's only one team that's ready to pay Jimmy Butler exactly what he wants and that's the Phoenix Suns."

Butler is on a seven-game suspension and the Heat expect him to play for them again when it concludes assuming he is not traded by then.

"We are at a genuine stalemate," said Windhorst. "I don't know how it's going to play out. The Heat are preparing internally for this to last past suspension. Not because they have some sort of sinister motive but because they know what offers they've gotten and they stink."

Butler is in the final season of a $49 million contract and has a player option for $52 million in 25-26. 

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[Pickled Prunes]

30 people in a room and 29 think giving Jimmy that next big contract is a bad idea... find the fool!

Assuming Beal waives his no-trade... is 4-5 years of old Jimmy better than 3 years of Beal?

[Ruma85]

30 people in a room and 29 think giving Jimmy that next big contract is a bad idea... find the fool!

Assuming Beal waives his no-trade... is 4-5 years of old Jimmy better than 3 years of Beal?

A guy who has made 2 finals as a 1 option, who's unselfish to a fault umm.....of course. The problem is Miami does not want Beal on this contract which plus Beal has no trade clause in place. Should be interesting the next couple weeks.

[Pickled Prunes]

30 people in a room and 29 think giving Jimmy that next big contract is a bad idea... find the fool!

Assuming Beal waives his no-trade... is 4-5 years of old Jimmy better than 3 years of Beal?

A guy who has made 2 finals as a 1 option, who's unselfish to a fault umm.....of course. The problem is Miami does not want Beal on this contract which plus Beal has no trade clause in place. Should be interesting the next couple weeks.

If Jimmy were "unselfish to a fault" he wouldn't have burnt bridges in three states before getting to MIA. He's good when things are good and a pain when things aren't.

You didn't answer my question. Nobody wants Beal on this contract, but nobody wants Jimmy on this contract either. And with Jimmy there is the question of the next contract. Trust me, Beal knows he's taking a significant pay cut on the next deal. Jimmy hasn't faced that reality yet.

[Ruma85]

30 people in a room and 29 think giving Jimmy that next big contract is a bad idea... find the fool!

Assuming Beal waives his no-trade... is 4-5 years of old Jimmy better than 3 years of Beal?

A guy who has made 2 finals as a 1 option, who's unselfish to a fault umm.....of course. The problem is Miami does not want Beal on this contract which plus Beal has no trade clause in place. Should be interesting the next couple weeks.

If Jimmy were "unselfish to a fault" he wouldn't have burnt bridges in three states before getting to MIA. He's good when things are good and a pain when things aren't.

You didn't answer my question. Nobody wants Beal on this contract, but nobody wants Jimmy on this contract either. And with Jimmy there is the question of the next contract. Trust me, Beal knows he's taking a significant pay cut on the next deal. Jimmy hasn't faced that reality yet.

Beal's dead weight compared to Jimmy. There're a few teams willing to trade for Jimmy, the guy is not perfect, but being appreciate highly matters to him..

[Pickled Prunes]

A guy who has made 2 finals as a 1 option, who's unselfish to a fault umm.....of course. The problem is Miami does not want Beal on this contract which plus Beal has no trade clause in place. Should be interesting the next couple weeks.

If Jimmy were "unselfish to a fault" he wouldn't have burnt bridges in three states before getting to MIA. He's good when things are good and a pain when things aren't.

You didn't answer my question. Nobody wants Beal on this contract, but nobody wants Jimmy on this contract either. And with Jimmy there is the question of the next contract. Trust me, Beal knows he's taking a significant pay cut on the next deal. Jimmy hasn't faced that reality yet.

Beal's dead weight compared to Jimmy. There're a few teams willing to trade for Jimmy, the guy is not perfect, but being appreciate highly matters to him..

Being willing to trade Jimmy for Beal doesn't count. Beal is on a deal that lasts a year longer and cost more annually. PHX would be saving money and getting a better player, even if that player isn't worth their $50m price tag. It would unquestionably be a good move for PHX, even though I don't think it will make a difference in June.

But what if Jimmy expects a 3-year max extension from PHX. (Which it sounds like he does.) Now his deal is longer and costs more annually. KD retires, Jimmy is approaching 40 and all of your draft assets are years in the future. All of a sudden Beal doesn't look so bad.

[Ruma85]

If Jimmy were "unselfish to a fault" he wouldn't have burnt bridges in three states before getting to MIA. He's good when things are good and a pain when things aren't.

You didn't answer my question. Nobody wants Beal on this contract, but nobody wants Jimmy on this contract either. And with Jimmy there is the question of the next contract. Trust me, Beal knows he's taking a significant pay cut on the next deal. Jimmy hasn't faced that reality yet.

Beal's dead weight compared to Jimmy. There're a few teams willing to trade for Jimmy, the guy is not perfect, but being appreciate highly matters to him..

Being willing to trade Jimmy for Beal doesn't count. Beal is on a deal that lasts a year longer and cost more annually. PHX would be saving money and getting a better player, even if that player isn't worth their $50m price tag. It would unquestionably be a good move for PHX, even though I don't think it will make a difference in June.

But what if Jimmy expects a 3-year max extension from PHX. (Which it sounds like he does.) Now his deal is longer and costs more annually. KD retires, Jimmy is approaching 40 and all of your draft assets are years in the future. All of a sudden Beal doesn't look so bad.

Jimmy ain't a stupid person, there's obviously a reason ( if true ) why he wants to play for the Suns.

[Pickled Prunes]

Beal's dead weight compared to Jimmy. There're a few teams willing to trade for Jimmy, the guy is not perfect, but being appreciate highly matters to him..

Being willing to trade Jimmy for Beal doesn't count. Beal is on a deal that lasts a year longer and cost more annually. PHX would be saving money and getting a better player, even if that player isn't worth their $50m price tag. It would unquestionably be a good move for PHX, even though I don't think it will make a difference in June.

But what if Jimmy expects a 3-year max extension from PHX. (Which it sounds like he does.) Now his deal is longer and costs more annually. KD retires, Jimmy is approaching 40 and all of your draft assets are years in the future. All of a sudden Beal doesn't look so bad.

Jimmy ain't a stupid person, there's obviously a reason ( if true ) why he wants to play for the Suns.

Nobody called him stupid. They have deep pockets in PHX and a legit chance of making noise in the playoffs.

[Ruma85]

Being willing to trade Jimmy for Beal doesn't count. Beal is on a deal that lasts a year longer and cost more annually. PHX would be saving money and getting a better player, even if that player isn't worth their $50m price tag. It would unquestionably be a good move for PHX, even though I don't think it will make a difference in June.

But what if Jimmy expects a 3-year max extension from PHX. (Which it sounds like he does.) Now his deal is longer and costs more annually. KD retires, Jimmy is approaching 40 and all of your draft assets are years in the future. All of a sudden Beal doesn't look so bad.

Jimmy ain't a stupid person, there's obviously a reason ( if true ) why he wants to play for the Suns.

Nobody called him stupid. They have deep pockets in PHX and a legit chance of making noise in the playoffs.

Never said you did, it's just general observation.

[TheCage4]

Ishbia has sunk the Suns for the foreseeable future. While that probably doesn't mean much to a multi-billionaire, I'm sure it does for the Phoenix fan base. They will at some point have to have a fire sale with not much but a struck match to fuel the flames.

Even if they are able to find a third team to take Beal, you still have a "Big 3" that is no closer to winning a championship then if no trade was made.

[PHXCavaliers]

Being willing to trade Jimmy for Beal doesn't count. Beal is on a deal that lasts a year longer and cost more annually. PHX would be saving money and getting a better player, even if that player isn't worth their $50m price tag. It would unquestionably be a good move for PHX, even though I don't think it will make a difference in June.

But what if Jimmy expects a 3-year max extension from PHX. (Which it sounds like he does.) Now his deal is longer and costs more annually. KD retires, Jimmy is approaching 40 and all of your draft assets are years in the future. All of a sudden Beal doesn't look so bad.

Jimmy ain't a stupid person, there's obviously a reason ( if true ) why he wants to play for the Suns.

Nobody called him stupid. They have deep pockets in PHX and a legit chance of making noise in the playoffs.

As a transplant who lives in Phoenix... I can wholeheartedly say this Suns team with Beal or Jimmy has 0 chance to make noise in the playoffs... they are a dumpster fire

[puja21]

nobody wants Jimmy on this contract either. And with Jimmy there is the question of the next contract. Trust me, Beal knows he's taking a significant pay cut on the next deal. Jimmy hasn't faced that reality yet.

Idk if it's even a question of "the next" contract.

That feels mandatory

e.g.
I would wager Jimmy's planning to not go anywhere quietly/happily without an extension/promise worked out at time-of-trade

To your "which is worse" question earlier, if Ishbia did reneg (or not offer) the extension and Jimmy opted in spitefully, he *might* be easier for Phoenix to flip again on an expiring 52M (than he is for Miami to move now)

[Pickled Prunes]

nobody wants Jimmy on this contract either. And with Jimmy there is the question of the next contract. Trust me, Beal knows he's taking a significant pay cut on the next deal. Jimmy hasn't faced that reality yet.

Idk if it's even a question of "the next" contract.

That feels mandatory

e.g.
I would wager Jimmy's planning to not go anywhere quietly/happily without an extension/promise worked out at time-of-trade

To your "which is worse" question earlier, if Ishbia did reneg (or not offer) the extension and Jimmy opted in spitefully, he *might* be easier for Phoenix to flip again on an expiring 52M (than he is for Miami to move now)

I agree that Jimmy's next contract is assumed, which is why I think PHX is better off not entertaining this deal. Just swapping Beal for Jimmy doesn't really fix their issues. And the trade would likely expend the last of the Suns' remaining draft assets for the next seven years. I don't see it.

I like Jimmy to DET for Harris, Hardaway and Fontecchio. They are just 1 game out of the 5th spot in the East. It would be nice if they could keep Harris but I don't see a way. If they win a game or two in the first round it will be worth the cost of admission... and they can resign Jimmy if he's happy or flip him in the summer.

[Pickled Prunes]

Jimmy ain't a stupid person, there's obviously a reason ( if true ) why he wants to play for the Suns.

Nobody called him stupid. They have deep pockets in PHX and a legit chance of making noise in the playoffs.

As a transplant who lives in Phoenix... I can wholeheartedly say this Suns team with Beal or Jimmy has 0 chance to make noise in the playoffs... they are a dumpster fire

You're right, they are a dumpster fire. Fires do tend to burn themselves out.

But I was speaking more from Jimmy's perspective. They have the talent to make noise and there should be no doubt that Jimmy seems himself as the answer to any difficult situation.