Inside The Heat

Report: Golden State, Phoenix Still At "Forefront" In Jimmy Butler Trade Talks

Shandel Richardson|
Jan 21, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots the basketball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jan 21, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots the basketball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Miami Heat

The Miami Heat only have three days left to make a decision on forward Jimmy Butler.

There is still plenty action regarding a Butler trade according to ESPN's Sham Charania. He provided an update on the situation Monday on SportsCenter.

He said the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors have expended the most energy trying to acquire Butler.

“The two teams that have been at the forefront of this [Butler trade talks] have been the Suns and Warriors," Charania said. "I expect those talks to continue & escalate. But one thing that has become clear around the league, is that the one team Butler would stay with, commit with long-term is the Suns.”

Charania said Butler has long-term interest in playing with the Suns but that is the most difficult sell because it would have to involve Bradley Beal. The unfortunate part is Beal has a no-trade clause, so he would have to agree to wanting to play for the Heat.

Beal also has a hefty price tag if the Heat decide to pursue it.

"They also have the hardest pathway to get a potential deal done," Charania said. "Bradley Beal, the player you would potentially move in a transaction like this, he has a no-trade clause. He has two years, $110 million left on his deal after this season. There's a lot at stake in Phoenix between now and Thursday."

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here