NBA stars Jimmy Butler and Brandon Ingram are both open to being traded, ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania reported.
He reported that Butler, a six-time All-Star, “is believed to prefer a win-now contender in any trade.”
Butler, 35, is making $48,798,677 this season and has a player option next year for $52,413,394. Butler intends to out of his deal for next season and test free agency, Charania reported.
“I'm told that Jimmy Butler's agent has communicated in league circles recently that Butler would be open to destinations such as the two Texas teams, the Mavericks and the Rockets, as well as the Golden State Warriors,” Charania said Tuesday on SportsCenter.
“And sources tell me the Heat are open to listening to trade offers on Butler. He prefers a win now destination, a contender in any type of a trade.”
Butler, 35, is averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists this season while shooting 56% from the field.
“Jimmy Butler also asked to see what his options are,” Charania said. “This will be a very active situation between now and the February trade deadline.”
Ingram, 27, is averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 47% shooting, but is out indefinitely with an ankle sprain.
Ingram is in the final year of a five-year deal and will earn $36,016,200 this season. Charania reported that, in 2023, Ingram turned down an extension that would have paid him $50 million annually and, this offseason, one that would have paid $40 million annually.
“He's got a $36 million expiring contract right now, and as the Pelicans look at their salary sheets, they just at this point are not going to be able to match that type of a number in an extension as it stands,” Charania said Tuesday.
“So that's why, from what I'm told, the trade route is much more likely... So they're going to look at the extension route and the trade route....I expect a robust marketplace.”