While much of the trade talk surrounding Jimmy Butler has centered upon the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, one former NBA standout “really doubts” he will end up in either location.
Quentin Richardson, an ESPN analyst who played for multiple NBA teams, including the Heat, Suns and Knicks, doesn’t think Heat President Pat Riley will deal Butler to either Western Conference team.
“To be honest, I don’t see the Heat sending him to either one of those places, man,” Richardson said Sunday on SportsCenter. “I don’t know where he will end up. I absolutely think and know that the Miami Heat will make this happen at some point, and I know it will be in the best interests of the Heat, knowing the way Pat Riley moves, but I really doubt that he’ll go to one of those great destinations like Phoenix or Golden State where he’ll have a chance to win in that way, right away,”
The Heat announced Friday that they were suspending the 6-time NBA All-Star for seven games due to “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team” and would “listen to [trade] offers” for Butler.
The Heat, currently a top-six team in the Eastern Conference, are now taking phone calls on Butler.
“Over the last 36 hours, the derby for Jimmy Butler has really opened since the Heat made that statement on Friday night,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said.
“They’ve definitely gotten a lot of calls. The issue here is that most of the offers are not that attractive to the Heat, and that doesn’t surprise them because a month ago they heard some calls on Jimmy Butler, and then they came out with that statement that they weren’t going to trade him because they really didn’t like any of the offers.
“I think right now you’re seeing a lot of teams testing just how low they might be able to buy Jimmy Butler.”
Windhorst added that the Suns can offer Bradley Beal, who is owed $110 million over the next two years but would have to waive his no-trade clause to make this happen.
“The irony of this situation is the best fit and most aggressive team for Jimmy Butler is maybe the one out of the 29 teams that has the hardest time getting him, that’s the Phoenix Suns,” he said. “The only functional way to get him is Bradley Beal, who has a no trade clause and the Heat two years ago…
“So that would take a third or potentially fourth team and those deals are very hard to put together. It’s going to be a lot of talking and a lot of complicated maneuvering. I think Butler will eventually get moved, but the Heat don’t like their hand right now at all.”
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.
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