Jimmy Butler wants out of Miami.
Butler has indicated to the Heat that he wants the team to trade him and is open to playing anywhere other than Miami, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst.
It seems like it’s only a matter of time until Butler gets traded. Charania mentioned the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors as Butler’s preferred destinations. However, any team can enter the sweepstakes.
How about the Toronto Raptors? It wouldn’t make much sense for the Raptors to trade for the 36-year-old since they are in the midst of their rebuild. However, for the sake of entertaining this idea, let’s say the Raptors are interested. In order for the Raptors to match Butler’s salary, a deal of RJ Barrett and Bruce Brown for Butler works.
If the Raptors wanted to bypass their rebuild and try to compete for a championship they could consider something along those lines. However, it would be foolish for the Raptors to trade one of their young core pieces for an aging veteran in Butler. Not to mention, he has a player option to become a free agent this summer.
While the Raptors shouldn’t trade for Butler, they should definitely try getting involved in helping facilitate a trade for him. Between Bruce Brown and Chris Boucher the Raptors have $34 million in expiring salary. It could balloon to $40 million with Davion Mitchell.
One of the things the Heat should prioritize in a Butler trade is maintaining financial flexibility moving forward and expiring deals help with that. If the Raptors help execute a trade, they could end up with draft capital in return. Although, the Raptors would have to be mindful about what long-term salary they can take on in this potential scenario since they have its core locked up with a potential Jakob Poeltl extension upcoming.
It will be interesting to see how the Butler trade saga ends.
3 takeaways from Raptors’ loss to Magic
The Toronto Raptors fell flat against the Orlando Magic 106-97.
Here are 3 takeaways from the game.
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