After reporting earlier this week that Jimmy Butler communicated to the Warriors that he’s not interested in signing an extension with them, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on Tuesday during a TV appearance on Get Up (YouTube link) that the Heat forward remains laser-focused on getting to Phoenix.
“He is trying so hard to force his way to the Suns,” Windhorst said. “He has had several other opportunities where he could have gone, including the Warriors, who were willing to give him a contract extension. And he said, ‘No, send me to Phoenix.’”
While the fact that Phoenix is Butler’s preferred destination has been widely reported for weeks, the 35-year-old’s camp appears to be pushing back on the idea that he’s telling other teams he’s not willing to sign with them.
Sources tell NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link) that Butler’s camp has repeatedly conveyed to the Heat that he’s healthy, in shape, and ready to continue his career. According to Haynes, their message to the team has been to negotiate the best deal possible, and if the Heat are nearing an agreement and that trade partner is granted permission by Miami to speak with Butler’s agent to discuss his future, that conversation would be “welcomed.”
To date, Haynes says, no team has requested permission to have that discussion to Butler’s agent.
For what it’s worth, Windhorst reported nearly a month ago that the Suns were the only team “ready to pay (Butler) exactly what he wants,” which is believed to be the primary reason why Phoenix is atop his wish list.
Here’s more on Butler:
- Later on in his Tuesday appearance on Get Up (YouTube link), during a conversation about the Warriors’ search for a star, Windhorst suggested that a package of Andrew Wiggins and draft assets hasn’t gotten Golden State very far in most of its trade discussions. However, he thinks that could be enough to land Butler if the Heat can’t agree to terms with the Suns. “I will say this, I think Miami was willing to do that deal and they were willing to do that deal for Jimmy Butler,” Windhorst said. “So let’s see if by Thursday that gets revisited. Jimmy Butler didn’t want it, and because he’s got an option on his contract, he has some measure of control.”
- Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald break down why the Heat aren’t interested in taking back Bradley Beal‘s contract in a Butler deal with the Suns, exploring how having that deal on the books would hamper the team’s flexibility going forward.
- In a separate story for The Herald, Jackson and Chiang take a closer look at why the Heat feel some level of urgency to close the books on the Butler drama this week. As The Herald’s duo writes, if Butler remains on the roster through Thursday’s deadline and continues to push for a deal to Phoenix, it could result in him picking up his $52MM option for 2025/26, since the Suns will still be operating over the tax aprons and won’t be permitted to acquire a player via sign-and-trade.