Whenever a big name hits the trade market or gets waived in the NBA, fans inevitably start wondering if the Phoenix Suns should make a move. Sometimes, it’s downright comical. Like clockwork, every season when Andre Drummond gets waived midway through, there’s always a corner of Suns Facebook convinced he’s the key to unlocking championship glory in the Valley.
Now, rumors are swirling out of Miami that Jimmy Butler — the same Jimmy Butler the Suns faced last Saturday — might be on the trade block. That’s right, Jimmy Buckets is reportedly available.
The Heat are open to listening to offers for Jimmy Butler, league sources told ESPN, and the six-time All-Star is believed to prefer a win-now contender in any trade. https://t.co/ifbfJY7ZPw
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 10, 2024
While the chances of a Jimmy Butler trade to Phoenix happening are slim — think Arizona Cardinals winning the World Series slim — it’s still worth exploring as a thought exercise. Who knows? Maybe we’ll learn something new about the Suns in the process. Plus, we’ve got five nights without Suns basketball, so why not talk Jimmy Butler trades?
Let’s start with the basics. Is it even possible? Short answer: No. Thanks for coming! Drive home safe!
But seriously, Jimmy Butler is earning $48.8 million this season with the Miami Heat. Next year, that jumps to $52.4 million before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026–27. For context, his current salary actually falls below all three members of the Suns’ Big Three: Kevin Durant at $51.1 million, Bradley Beal at $50.2 million, and Devin Booker at $49.2 million.
So could the Suns trade for Butler? Technically, yes, but only if the Miami Heat weren’t operating under the constraints of the first salary cap apron. And that’s where things get tricky.
When you dive into the complexities of the situation, the Miami Heat’s status as a first apron team makes the answer to a potential trade a firm “no.” Here’s why: being over the first apron limits the Heat to taking back 100% of the salary they send out in any deal. With Jimmy Butler making $48.8 million, Miami can only receive back that exact amount in salary, no more. Even a trade involving Devin Booker, who has the lowest salary of the Suns’ Big Three at $49.2 million, wouldn’t work.
It’s a shame, isn’t it? Imagine a world where the Suns could trade Bradley Beal instead. Miami, after all, was on Beal’s short list when he sought to leave the Washington Wizards. He wanted to go to a contender, and his two preferred destinations were the “hottest” teams in the NBA, the Suns and the Heat.
If the salaries could line up, a trade for Butler would give the Suns an intriguing bargaining chip. James Jones and Mat Ishbia could use it to nudge Beal into waiving his no-trade clause.
And let’s face it, Butler is exactly what the Suns need. Trading Beal for Butler would naturally shift Devin Booker back to his most effective position at shooting guard while Butler takes over at small forward.
Butler also brings more than skill; he brings a mindset. A fiery determination. The right kind of attitude. Think back to his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing alongside a young Karl-Anthony Towns. Butler’s departure from that team was reportedly fueled by frustration over their lack of intensity, focus, and discipline. A similar story unfolded in Philadelphia with Joel Embiid.
It wasn’t until Butler joined the Miami Heat and embraced Pat Riley’s “Heat Culture” that he truly hit his stride. Two NBA Finals appearances later, he’s proven himself as a player who thrives in the spotlight. And the kind of missing ingredient Phoenix desperately needs.
Yet, as rumors swirl like a dust devil in an empty dirt lot, you won’t hear Phoenix’s name in the mix. Because as much as we’d love to see it happen, it just can’t.
Unless, of course, James Jones finds a loophole. Prove me wrong, James. Because a Big Three of Booker, Butler, and Durant? That’s a championship recipe waiting to happen.