Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler Mock Trades

Miami, FL – It’s not a matter of if but when, that Jimmy Butler will get traded. He has clearly expressed his frustrations with Pat Riley, citing his lack of attempts to add another all-star. Both Butler and Riley are ready to disband their association together. The NBA trade deadline on February 6 is approaching fast and both sides are looking to accomplish the goal of sending Butler out of Miami. Here are some mock trades for Jimmy Butler that work for the Miami Heat.

Jimmy Butler is in the midst of a three-year contract paying him $48.7M this season and has a player option of $52.4M for the 2025-26 season. That’s a hefty contract for an aging 35-year-old veteran who hasn’t played 65 games in a season since 2018-19. Not every team should pounce at the opportunity of trading for Butler due to his history of injuries.

With that, there are some realistic trade proposals for Butler. Although it is difficult for a two-team trade to occur, a three or four-team trade is more likely. Jimmy Butler has said he wants to be anywhere but Miami. The Phoenix Suns are his preferred destination. A deal with the Suns would almost certainly involve Bradley Beal. The problem with Beal is that he has a no-trade clause. Thus, a transaction won’t be easy.

Three-Team Trades

• Heat receive: Fred VanVleet
• Suns receive: Jimmy Butler
• Rockets receive: Bradley Beal, 2029 1st round pick from Suns

#Heat trade proposal

Heat receive: Fred VanVleet
Suns receive: Jimmy Butler
Rockets receive: Bradley Beal, 2029 1st round pick from Suns pic.twitter.com/kp3DjS3lV6

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) January 24, 2025

For Bradley Beal, this would be great as he would be joining a team that’s in 2nd place in the Western Conference and he can help out their 4th quarter offense. The problem for the Rockets would be getting rid of VanVleet, who’s been on a roll lately, shooting 43% from the 3-point range.

Fred VanVleet would fill the role as the starting point guard for the Heat and would be a good playmaker alongside Tyler Herro. The 2019 NBA champ has playoff experience from his time with the Raptors, which defines Heat Culture.

2.

• Heat receive: Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr.
• Suns receive: Jimmy Butler
• Pistons receive: Bradley Beal, 2029 1st round pick from Suns

#Heat trade proposal

Heat receive: Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr.
Suns receive: Jimmy Butler
Pistons receive: Bradley Beal, 2029 1st round pick from Suns pic.twitter.com/NIIhRxi7Fy

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) January 24, 2025

The Pistons have plenty of cap space to deal with Bradley Beal’s contract. Although they got off to a rough 11-17 start, they’ve turned their season around and currently find themselves in a playoff spot. Pairing Beal with Cade Cunningham may be enticing enough for them to make the move.

The objection here would have to be that the Heat would receive two role players at best. They already have players such as Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Terry Rozier earning minutes on the bench and this would create lots of competition.

4-Team Trade

• Heat receive: Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, 2027 1st round pick from Suns
• Pistons receive: Pat Connaughton, MarJon Beauchamp, 2029 1st round pick from Suns
• Bucks receive: Bradley Beal, 2025 1st round pick from Suns
• Suns receive: Jimmy Butler

#Heat trade proposal

Heat receive: Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, 2027 1st round pick from Suns
Suns receive: Jimmy Butler
Bucks receive: Bradley Beal, 2025 1st round pick from Suns
Pistons receive: Pat Connaughton, MarJon Beauchamp, 2029 1st round pick from Suns pic.twitter.com/fTV8wlzs7b

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) January 24, 2025

The Suns recently traded their unprotected 2031 1st round pick to the Jazz for three 1st-round picks. It’s possible that they made that move with the potential of making another such as the one above. The Bucks would be able to control this deal by asking the Suns for their top pick of this year’s draft in return for taking over Beal’s $50.2M contract.

Middleton has had a recent history of sustaining injuries, but he won a ring with the Bucks in 2021 and carries playoff experience with them. That’s good enough for him to prove he would be a good short-term rental for the Heat in a push for their own run this season. Bobby Portis can also help the frontcourt featuring Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.

The overall situation at hand

Of course, it’s entirely possible that February 6th comes and goes with Jimmy Butler still donning a Miami Heat uniform. This wouldn’t be ideal for either party but it’s a reality they may have to face. The Heat sit at 20-21 in the 8th seed of the Eastern Conference. It wouldn’t feel good for the team’s morale to be affected by its disgruntled star who isn’t happy anymore in Miami.

The six-time All-Star has done everything he could for the Heat, taking them to two NBA Finals appearances and three Eastern Conference Finals appearances. His wish to get traded should be granted because he deserves it based on his accolades here. Understandably, Pat Riley wants to get the most out of any trade he makes, but he may have to lessen his expectations as the time is ticking to make a move soon.

If the Heat want to seemingly compete in the playoffs this season, they’ll have to trade Jimmy Butler before things get any worse than they’ve already been. Even if it means trading him directly to the Suns for Bradley Beal, at least they can move past all the drama that’s going on and shift their attention to basketball again. The Heat ought to focus on competing now while also building their future roster around Adebayo, Herro, and another star.