Why Jimmy Butler’s interest in the Suns could leave the Heat in a mess if no trade this week
If the Heat is unable to ship off Jimmy Butler before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, and if he remains interested in joining the Phoenix Suns this offseason, Miami faces a potential landmine this summer that could leave the team in a pickle for months.
Under the rules of the new NBA labor agreement, teams that are above the first apron (which is about $8 million above the luxury tax threshold) are not permitted to participate in sign-and-trades.
The first apron for 2025-26 is projected to be $195.9 million, and the Suns already have $221 million in commitments for next season.
So if Butler isn’t dealt this week and wants to join the Suns, it would make sense for Butler to exercise his $52.4 million player option with the Heat for next season and pressure the Heat to trade him to the Suns.
If Butler opts out, there would be no feasible path for Butler to join the Suns this summer because they can’t partake in a sign-and-trade.
Even this summer, the Suns could trade only three players for Butler — Devin Booker, Bradley Beal or Kevin Durant — because teams over the second apron cannot aggregate salaries. (Next season’s second apron is projected to be $207.8 million.)
The Heat has not shown interest in taking on Beal’s contract, which has two years and $110 million remaining and also includes a no-trade clause. From all indications, the Suns aren’t interested in trading Booker or Durant to the Heat.
So Miami would be in the same predicament this summer if Butler opts in and if he discourages every team except Phoenix from pursuing him.
There are at least eight teams that could have at least $17 million in cap space this summer that could help facilitate a trade, but it’s highly questionable if any would agree to take Beal’s contract at that time.
If the Heat cannot trade Butler this week or this summer, Miami would be stuck with him on the roster and with a 2025-26 payroll of $191 million, above the projected $187.9 million luxury tax line. That would trigger the punitive luxury tax unless the Heat could get below the tax line by the end of next season.
So if the Heat can’t find a trade before Thursday’s deadline, Butler can burden the Heat with additional chaos — and a tax bill — next season unless commissioner Adam Silver intervenes.
The possibility of Butler exercising his player option this summer is one reason Miami is trying very hard to trade him.
Another reason Butler might be disinclined to opt out this summer: No contender would be able to offer Butler anything close to a max contract this summer.
If Houston surprisingly declines Fred Van Vleet’s $44.9 million team option, the Rockets could create nearly $40 million in cap space this summer, well below the $54.1 million max salary that Butler is eligible to receive next season if he opts out of $52.4 million. But Houston reportedly remains committed to Van Vleet.
Besides Phoenix, Boston and Denver also are prohibited from participating in sign-and-trades next summer with their current payrolls. Cleveland and New York are very close to the first apron for next season and couldn’t participate in a sign-and-trade if it takes them over that threshold.
TRADE REACTION
Thursday’s NBA trade deadline still isn’t here yet, but a few blockbuster moves have already changed the landscape of the league.
The Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA world by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis on Saturday night.
The on Sunday, the Sacramento Kings traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls that sent Zach LaVine to the Kings.
“At this point, you understand that it’s a business and you don’t forget that at any point that it’s a business,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said when asked about those trades ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup against the Bulls at United Center.
Even Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was left surprised by the moves, especially by the Doncic trade.
“It’s so surprising,” Spoelstra said. “And then you get to the point in this league where you’re surprised you’re surprised. It’s constantly things that will happen. Obviously, this one’s a bigger move than most that you see.”
As for Fox being sent to the Spurs, Heat guard Tyler Herro was happy Fox ended up going to his preferred trade destination.
“Fox, I’m pretty sure he requested a trade and he got what he wanted,” Herro said. “So I think that’s important, too, as a player. So I’m happy to see him go where he wanted to go, and he got there pretty fast.”
But the last few days have reminded NBA players of one important lesson.
“It just shows you, this league is expect the unexpected,” Herro said. “Luka is, obviously, I thought one of the most valuable players in this league. So for him to get traded, I think anyone is on the table. It just shows, too, every single day is a new challenge for yourself to continue to always get better, always try to improve yourself, improve the team and then overall just being a good guy around the locker room and around the team. I think that’s important, as well.”
