Jimmy Butler has two years remaining on his three-year, $146.4M deal. The ultimate 12 months of his contract is a participant possibility, and the veteran ahead is extensively anticipated to decide out of it.
Butler, 34, may change into an unrestricted free agent on the finish of the upcoming season and go away the Miami Warmth for nothing in the event that they’re unable to barter an extension.
Current reporting from Brian Lewis of the New York Put up has linked Butler with a transfer to the Brooklyn Nets.
“The chances of him choosing up his participant possibility are slim except he agrees to a max take care of the Warmth beforehand,” Lewis wrote. “The six-time All-Star is essentially the most completed standout on that [free agent] record not named [LeBron] James, and he likes Brooklyn, in line with sources near the participant.”
Brooklyn is presently within the early levels of a roster rebuild. Its determination to commerce Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in the beginning of the offseason has ensured It has a deep struggle chest of draft picks to reflect its rising record of younger expertise.
As such, Brooklyn has loads of flexibility if it chooses to change into a participant within the commerce market.
That flexibility seems to be engaging for Butler. On Saturday, Lewis doubled down on his reporting of Butler’s curiosity in Brooklyn by noting how the veteran is “fond” of the potential transfer.
“Butler isn’t simply open to Brooklyn, however keen on it, sources informed The Put up,” Lewis wrote. “Now, he’s not a Internet and he would possibly by no means get near changing into one. However to dismiss the chance out of hand is silly.”
Brooklyn is likely one of the solely groups within the NBA that would simply afford Butler’s wage subsequent summer season, too. According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, the Nets may have between $44M and $65M in cap area subsequent summer season, making it straightforward to soak up Butler into their squad.
“The Mikal Bridges commerce clearly put the Nets in a brand new part,” Hollinger reported. “That probably entails wielding cap area in the summertime of 2025; proper now, they’re projected to have between $44 million and $65 million and will simply open up extra by making trades involving Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and others after getting again their 2025 and 2026 first-round draft picks from the Houston Rockets this summer season.”
In a vacuum, Butler shifting to the Nets subsequent summer season can be finest for everybody concerned. The Warmth would have some scope to start rebuilding their group round Bam Adebayo, Butler would get one final alternative to spearhead a group and the Nets would have a star expertise to promote when recruiting different gamers from across the league.
However, the Nets ought to be cautious of Butler’s age. He is begun to point out indicators of slowing down. He’s within the last levels of his profession. Until they’re assured they’ll encompass him with a contending-level roster inside the first 12 months or two of his contract, his match on the roster will not make sense.
Nonetheless, if an opportunity to land Butler in free company arises, it will likely be extremely tough to show down. Miami has a choice to make, and the clock is already ticking.
