Top Destinations For NBA Superstar Potentially On The Move
Over the past few NBA Seasons, we’ve seen Jimmy Butler put the Miami Heat on his back and lug them way further into the playoffs than they should be. With it rumored that he is unhappy in Miami, what teams could swoop in to make the NBA-altering trade for the Heat superstar?
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers would be an intriguing spot for Butler. He’s already had one stint in Philadelphia, although it may have left a bad taste in Jimmy’s mouth when the Sixers decided to keep Tobias Harris over him (LOL).
But if Butler would be willing to go back, he and Joel Embiid could form a lethal duo. Butler makes Bam Adebayo work, imagine what he could do with Embiid by his side? Embiid could also use someone on the roster like Butler. Someone who can take over a game and take some of the pressure off of him.
The Heat have gone on record, saying they don’t want a deal centered around draft compensation. The deal will be steep, but it could be very worth it with a hungry Jimmy Butler who sees his championship window closing.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors know that they need to rebuild around Steph Curry, and fast. The likes of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green just aren’t cutting it anymore. Curry needs some real help, especially with the Western Conference getting scarier and scarier. That’s where Jimmy Butler comes in.
If the Warriors are willing to part ways with some of their young talent, Miami might be willing to make it happen to get Butler out of the East. Butler would bring an old-Klay vibe to the Warriors, but maybe even better. His intensity is something that could bring out the best in some of the Warriors’ young guys, providing they get to keep any in a trade.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are at an odd spot in their growth as a team. They have a lot of young guys who are budding into great players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, and a young superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The one thing they’re missing is a solid veteran presence. Enter Jimmy Butler.
We saw the Thunder knocking on the door of the Western Conference Finals this season, only to be extinguished by Luka Doncic and the NBA Finals-bound Dallas Mavericks. A player like Butler could take them over the top and turn them into contenders for years to come. Although the Heat are searching for more than draft picks, the Thunder have plenty of those they could toss to Miami along with a player or two to make it happen.
Memphis Grizzlies
In an attempt to bring back the Grizzlies’ “Grit and Grind” playstyle, Memphis went out and acquired Marcus Smart last offseason. Who better to keep going towards that mantra than Jimmy Butler? The Grizzlies find themselves in a situation similar to the Thunder. Young talent but just a piece away from being a real threat out west.
Who knows what the trade package would look like, but if the Grizzlies can trot out a starting lineup of Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Jimmy Butler, and Jaren Jackson Jr, they might be cooking.
New York Knicks
The Knicks came so close to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance before a couple of injuries derailed the seven-game thriller with the Pacers. Would Jimmy Butler want to play for Tom Thibodeau again? Who knows. But if he decides he is fine with that, the Knicks would be one of the scariest teams in the East.
The Knicks seem to be floated into every trade discussion, but this one might get serious traction. Stars love playing at Madison Square Garden. The Mecca, some call it. The Heat might not feel great about keeping Butler so close, but these days in the NBA it seems like star players get to pick exactly where they are traded, so you can’t rule it out.
Depending on what OG Anunoby and Julius Randle do with their player options could open up some cap space as well, which will be needed for the Super Max player that Jimmy Butler is. If the Knicks can send out Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Isiah Hartenstein, they could go toe to toe with a lot of teams that they need to beat in the East.
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