Jimmy Butler ruling out potential trade destinations?

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, multiple teams – including the Grizzlies – have been informed that Butler isn’t interested in joining them and have been advised not to pursue the 35-year-old. Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports has heard rumblings that the Bucks may also be included in that group.

Butler doesn’t have the ability to veto a trade, and the Heat will be seeking the deal that makes the most sense for the organization, so there’s nothing stopping Memphis or another team not on Butler’s list of preferred destinations from rolling the dice on him.

However, as Haynes observes, Butler’s ability to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end by declining his $52.4M player option gives him some leverage. A potential suitor would be reluctant to sacrifice valuable assets for Butler without being reasonably confident that the six-time All-Star would be more than a rest-of-season rental — especially since the veteran has made it clear he’s willing to make things uncomfortable if he’s not happy.

The Suns, Warriors, Mavericks and Rockets were reported to be the landing spots on Butler’s wish list. It’s unclear whether that list has expanded in recent weeks. The Grizzlies are one team that would make sense as a fit, given the strength of their roster, their cap situation, their available trade assets and their desire to add a defensive-minded wing.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also provided an update on the Butler situation during Tuesday’s episode of First Take. Noting that Butler has long conveyed his intent to become a free agent after this season, Windhorst says teams are hesitant to give up significant assets to acquire him, given his contract situation and salary expectations.

“Jimmy Butler isn’t going to extend with any team. And so because teams know that, they’re offering the Heat right now the pu-pu platter,” Windhorst said. “There is only one team that is ready to pay Jimmy Butler exactly what he wants, and that is the Phoenix Suns. And you know why that’s fascinating? Because of the 29 other teams that are out there that could trade for Jimmy Butler, the team that he wants to go to, which is Phoenix, is the team that has the hardest time trading for him.”

There’s mutual interest between Butler and the Suns, but Phoenix would almost certainly have to send out Bradley Beal to acquire Butler due to the team’s second-apron restrictions.

Beal has a no-trade clause and is on a maximum-salary contract that is widely viewed as an albatross, given that he’s still owed nearly $111M over two years after this season. The Heat reportedly have zero interest in acquiring the veteran guard, so a third team (that he’d be willing to go to) would be necessary, and the Suns likely lack the draft assets to incentivize both the Heat and that third team to make a deal.

“We’re at a genuine stalemate,” Windhorst continued. “I don’t know how it’s going to play out. The Heat are preparing internally for this to last past (Butler’s seven-game) suspension, not because they’ve got some sort of sinister motive, but because they know what offers they’ve gotten and they stink. And so that’s where we’re at now.”

Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald confirms that the Heat have yet to be presented with an offer for Butler that’s particularly tempting or that they’ve strongly considered.